Self-Discipline: You Can Do It!

Discipline. It’s one of the keys to successfully coping with job loss. But, what is it really?

A couple of years ago, when the school year was winding down, there was an article in the newspaper about a graduating senior being honored for never missing a day of school for all twelve grades. The principal made the comment that he was more accustomed to disciplining students than to giving them awards. That statement showed how most people commonly view discipline – as punishment. In my opinion, that student showed a better understanding of discipline than the principal did. It certainly took discipline to do what she did.

Dictionary.com gives nine different definitions for discipline. Here are the first three:
1. training to act in accordance with rules; drill: military discipline.
2. activity, exercise, or a regimen that develops or improves a skill; training: A daily stint at the typewriter is excellent discipline for a writer.
3. punishment inflicted by way of correction and training.

None of the other definitions even refers to punishment.

Notice that punishment is not first, or even second. And even when it is mentioned, it’s punishment with the purpose of correction and training.

The discipline that you are going to need won’t come from a parent, a teacher, your boss, or any other person. It will come from you. From within. And, it’s never easy.

You will almost certainly find that you need some help developing this skill, of course. I'm sure that the girl with the perfect attendance record needed help accomplishing that feat. Take advantage of your support system (family, friends, etc.) to help. There is a great resource link listed at the end of this article, too.

Also, you may as well start out by deciding to leave off the punishment. This may seem like it would be easy to do, since you will be the one making the decisions. But, it's anything but easy.

Just wait until you have had an interview that you blew. You'll have all sorts of negative thoughts and emotions - downright anger at yourself. But, it's not going to do any good to "beat yourself over the head." It may take some firm words with yourself to stay in control of the situation and learn from your mistakes so you don't repeat them. But, self-abuse is never going to make things better. If you ever needed yourself on your own side, now's the time.

Another thing that may take all the will power you can muster at times is the "simple, day-to-day stuff" such as getting up in the morning, eating right, and exercising. And keeping a positive outlook, when nothing seems positive, can be a real bear.

Read how one person's self-discipline made all the difference.

Learn to build self-discipline