Discipline Equals Freedom

“Through discipline comes freedom.”  ~ Aristotle

Summertime is the perfect time for taking vacations. And having free time is important to your overall well-being and happiness. I take a lot of time off in the summer with my family. (As a matter of fact, as I type this, I’ve just returned from being away and am getting ready to leave again.) But the one thing I know is that if I’m not disciplined enough to get my work done, it’s not only hard to get away but also hard to enjoy my time off, knowing that I have pressing projects or to-do’s hanging over my head. Not to mention the fact that if I don’t have discipline in getting things done, I will never achieve or be successful with anything. As Jim Rohn says, “Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishment.”

That’s why this week’s quote, although so simple, is so very profound. It has been a complete game changer for me. Although, I will admit that when I first heard the concept that discipline equals freedom, I had a twinge of dislike because the stigma of the word discipline caught my attention first. Discipline in general tends to be closely related to punishment. But when you think of it in terms of self-control… that’s when you’ll realize that self-discipline is a true gift that you give yourself. Without it, you will struggle. With it, you can truly change your life for the better in every way.

The ability to be disciplined with your time, your thoughts, your focus, your actions, your habits, etc. will not only give you freedom at other times but adopting the concept of discipline into all those areas will quite possibly get you to your goals faster and with greater success, than any other concept. 

So as this month ends and we get ready to start the second half of the year, let this be the time you recommit to your goals and set yourself up for greater success through focus and discipline.

An excellent place to begin is with examining your daily routines to see where you might be lacking discipline. The key to creating the future you desire is hidden in your daily routines. As former US Navy SEAL Commander, Jocko Willink said in his book, Discipline Equals Freedom: Field Manual, “Discipline equals freedom and discipline is made apparent in your daily routine.” So, what does your daily routine look like? Ask yourself these questions:

• Do you notice that you lack discipline in planning and executing your day?
• Do you lack discipline in following through with tasks?
• Do you get distracted or sidetracked easily?
• Do you let other people’s agendas hijack your own?
• Do you have discipline and control over your thoughts, emotions, energy, behaviors, actions?

Once you know where you lack discipline, you can start working to change those habits and be more disciplined within your day. And one day leads to the next, which eventually leads to a lifetime.  

Remember from last week, action is what turns your vision for your future into reality, so being disciplined about being consistent with your actions is essential to achieving your goals and creating that future you desire. Not to mention that when you develop daily self-discipline, you’ll be amazed at how much more freedom you have in your life to do the things you love, with the people you love. And after all, isn’t creating that freedom and happiness in your life what success is all about?

There's no better time than now to recommit to your goals so you can finish the second half of the year strong. Get clear on what you need to do and the habits that will get you there with a KickStart Strategy Session. Book your session NOW!