Ah Discipline.

A couple of months ago I was planning to restart my blog. I was making all these new and recycled discoveries about myself and I knew I needed to start writing again. However I did not begin writing until much later. I just wanted to let the idea float around in my mind to see if I could come up with something else until I felt compelled to sit at my computer and start writing.

Isn’t that the struggle? FEELING like you can do what you NEED to do. That is where my laziness meets discipline. More times than not my laziness wins.

Oh and I make these elaborate excuses for myself, to myself, like “I got no juice right now”. I do not have to feel like doing something in order to do it.

If I’m honest this lesson really digs in deep during times of prayer, worship and meditation. Sometimes I open in prayer, “God I do not feel like doing this right now.” And of course I ask that He would help me to focus and forget about what I am going to eat for lunch later. I remember days when I was first learning about these cool and interesting bible stories. I would sit and read like I was reading an adventure novel. Then it became mundane. That is when you have to find other creative ways to stay engaged.

To do anything well and to fight best on YOUR LEVEL (read the other blogs) requires you to be disciplined. Last week when I launched the blog, I had given myself a set of rules. These rules were to make sure that I stayed engaged and continue writing even if I did not FEEL like it. I knew that the time would come when I’d let the days past without even trying. And yet here I am!

I really do like this meme that has been going around but you have to choose which part works best for you. Some people seem to be innately disciplined but discipline is not something you are born with; it is something that you have to work at.

So what is the plan? What should those of us who lack discipline do?

Set goals for yourself, tell people and have them hold you accountable. Easier said than done but this worked for me. I started going to a gym where I made a few friends. We would meet at this cool gym about 7 minutes away from my apartment, every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 6am. I am not an early bird but I set a goal for myself to workout and with a group of people who expected me to show up. After doing this for several weeks I didn’t need an alarm clock, I was showing up to work earlier than normal, my body was getting right and I was learning to be more disciplined in things like my finances, health etc.

I found something that worked and it started a ripple effect in my entire life. I can’t meet with friends at the gym anymore, or head into the office. So it is just a matter of re-evaluating where we are and where we want to be and how to get there with this new norm. While doing this please do not forget to be patient and kind to yourself.

“No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.” Hebrews 12:11

Love,

V