“With self-discipline most anything is possible.”—Theodore Roosevelt
I love the movie What About Bob? with Bill Murray and Richard Dreyfuss. I use is in my Exercise Motivation & Adherence course to introduce some elements of behavioral change. (Yes, I do use a Bill Murray movie for educational purposes!) Bill Murray’s character, Bob Wiley, effectively illustrates the benefits of small changes—baby steps—in making notable change in one’s life. Baby steps to success!
It is timely that I have been thinking about this topic as I read Coyte Cooper’s book: Make Your Mark. As I considered this topic, I came to the chapter “Develop the Discipline Required to Live Your Dreams.” Central to the theme are the notions of “daily doses of self-disciple” and the compounding effect of self disciple. Coyte refers to this as “getting your reps in.”
Self-discipline, or self-control, is a cultivated trait. Self-discipline is a practice of practice. It is a conscious choice to do the difficult things. It is a willingness to do what few others are willing to do. Self-disciple requires patience and perseverance.
Discipline begets discipline. One who desires to have (extra)ordinary success must be willing to put in the work. It is work, but it really isn’t hard work. Overcoming the initial inertia is hard, but once this is overcome, the momentum will drive the progress further. If Sir Isaac Newton were a psychologist, he would have suggested that an individual life that is stagnant will remain stagnant until acted upon by an external motivation. A motivated individual will continue moving in the direction of his or her goals until acted upon by an opposing impulse.
Self-disciple is the force that keeps one moving forward. At the onset the energy required might be great, but we reduce the impulse to remain stagnant with small investments in self-discipline. Baby steps!
With each seemingly minor step, momentum builds. The reward of successful achievement builds self-confidence and a willingness to take the next step. Begin by initiating some exercise in self-discipline. I have shared the idea of SIDCHA (self-imposed daily challenging healthy activities). Here is a great place to start. Initiate and build a morning routine. Add to your self-discipline over time. Physical growth and adaptation comes only with progressive overload (doing more than that to which you are accustomed). Before long, the growth will be notable.
There is indeed a compounding effect of self-disciple. Initially, one might feel like Sisyphus rolling the stone uphill, but growing self-discipline is not an exercise in futility. Very soon one reaches the tipping point and momentum kicks in. The stone now picks up speed as it rolls down hill.
Be your best today; be better tomorrow!