WEEKLY WISDOM - DISCIPLINE

Discipline: orderly or prescribed conduct or pattern of behavior, self-control

When most people use the word discipline, what comes to mind is corrective action either with children or in some work situation. The context of discipline focused here is about how to bring ourselves under subjection so that we can grow and develop in every area of our lives. In all honesty, this has been something that I have struggled with over the past few months due to the stressors and busyness of life. I gained some extra pounds, and it caused a ripple effect in certain areas of my life such as low energy levels, self-esteem being challenged, avoiding mirrors, and writing crazy narratives in my head about my self-image. Thanks for letting me be transparent.

Discipline is to train or develop by instruction and exercise, especially in self-control. If you desire to lead, how can you lead effectively if you have not brought yourself under discipline in focused aspects of your life. Discipline will require you to make choices that will not only benefit you but those around you as well.

If you consider just some of your personal basics of discipline, it involves your rest, diet, and exercise. Studies have proven that if you get the proper amount of rest, eat healthily, and exercise on a consistent and regular basis; then you become sharper, everything becomes clearer, and life becomes richer. This then elevates your spiritual, physical, mental, emotional, and psychological state of being. Again, these are just some of the basics to consider when bringing your body under subjection. This will also benefit those around you because you are bringing your best self to the table every single time.

Often, we try to achieve this level of discipline on our own, but the lesson that I have learned is when we go it alone, we find ourselves in vicious emotional and physical cycles of great highs at the start and challenging lows when we fail to reach our desired outcomes. This continues in circles if we try to be disciplined on our own.  I would subscribe that you do one or more of the following to elevate your level of discipline which increases your chances of success.

1.       Establish a community or accountability group to assist you in whatever you are trying to achieve. This can be one or two people or a group or class.

2.       Track and journal your progress on a regular basis and share it with someone. This is even in your business pursuits so that you can grow and develop consistently. One person who helps me tremendously is the Holy Spirit. He is there to aid me in my pursuit of discipline as I look to make sure it glorifies God and benefits others.

3.       Develop a process around those areas that you want to become disciplined in. A consistent process allows you to strengthen your rhythms which in turn leads to success in those areas that will be long lasting.

Here are three scriptures that you can meditate on to strengthen your discipline.

·       Proverbs 25:28 A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls.

·       Hebrews 12:11 For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

·       2nd Timothy 1:7 for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self- control.

Just to let you all know, I have lost the weight by establishing a process that made me more disciplined.

 (EQUIPPING)

Exercise Your Power this week 

1.       List areas of your life where you can become more disciplined and determine why you are not disciplined in those areas.

2.       Develop a process for one area of your leadership or life that you want to be more disciplined in and be consistent for the next 30 days. 

3.       Identify one thing that you can give up that hinders your discipline.