Do you have enough self-discipline? How often have you resolved to take care of your health—set yourself the goal of exercising regularly or eating healthier? And have you successfully achieved these goals? If not, how do you explain your failure?
Everyone fails. This is something very typical and, at first glance, has little to do with self-discipline. What is important is the lesson you learn after each failure. Because if you don't get back up again and again, even if you've fallen many times, you won't reach your goal. Some people find it difficult to start over. Others, on the other hand, manage it with ease. What is the secret behind this? Can this ease be learned? The beginning is what matters!
"You have to be disciplined," we always hear. Discipline is sold as a miracle cure. It is supposed to be the solution for a better life. But is that all you need to be successful? And what does discipline actually mean?
Discipline is an initial energy that can become a conviction.
We deliberately distinguish between discipline and self-discipline. Discipline is not associated with freedom, energy, and inspiration, but rather with hardship or even overcoming obstacles. But not everyone needs discipline! Only those who are not convinced need discipline. It is an initial energy that is needed until it results in conviction. Once conviction is there, discipline is no longer necessary. In order to actually achieve a goal, it must be determined by inner conviction—self-discipline. Have you ever found yourself looking for the reasons for your failure in the failures of others? "He didn't make it either." Such a justification is wrong. Because most of the time, you don't fail because of your own abilities, but because of the goal itself. The fact is: if you constantly need discipline to find the motivation to work on change, then you don't really want that change. Discipline is exhaustible. Only inner conviction leads to success.
Discipline therefore describes the initial energy that is transformed into conviction in order to successfully achieve a goal. But what happens if you fail despite your inner conviction?
Why consistency is the key to self-discipline
Consistency means starting over and over again—until you achieve the desired result. Set yourself a goal—and despite setbacks, find the motivation to start over from the beginning every time. Because it's important to learn from failures and try new approaches. That's the only way to get closer to your goal—step by step. That's the only way you'll be successful. The beginner's mind is the mind we need. All doors remain open to it. Start – every second, every day, and you will achieve things you never thought you could achieve. Don't give up, because every winner stands on a mountain of defeats.
Consistency is the energy to start over again and again. Keep starting over—until you achieve results.
So let's briefly summarize: Discipline is the initial energy that leads to conviction and success when the decision has been made by the person themselves. In the event of failure, consistency comes into play. It gives you the ability to start again despite defeat and to forgive yourself in the event of failure. If you want to learn self-discipline, the transition from discipline to consistency is the key to success.
Your task is to become a beginner. Forgive yourself when you fail. Think about where in your life you combine discipline with difficulty and where you act consistently and with ease. How can you switch from discipline to consistency again and again?
