The Power of Self-Discipline: How to Stay Focused on Your Goals

By Opeyemi Akinbo

“Self-discipline is the ability to make yourself do what you should do when you should do it, whether you feel like it or not.” -Elbert Hubbard.

I believe that there is no one on Earth without goals, dreams or aspirations. Every body dreams but not everybody have one on the vital instrument to make the dream come true and that is self discipline.

Self discipline is the practice of training oneself to do what is right when it is right, even when you don’t feel like.

In this article you would be learning the practical steps to take to achieve your goals.

What is Self-Discipline?
Self discipline is like a man having a control over his own self and not the other way round.

A control to push even when we feel like resting.

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Motivation and Self-Discipline.

Motivation is the initial drive to start a thing. It is the why behind starting while motivation is the ability to consistently follow through with action. What we often lack is not motivation but the ability to consistently take action which is the most important.

Relying in motivation alone will take you to nowhere. You need self discipline.

I have once being in this situation. Constantly setting goals, motivations here and there, at times I even get started but continuity was the greatest challenge I had. Until I began to learn and practice self discipline, I struggled with abandoned goals and visions.

The Role of Self-Discipline in Achieving Goals.

Discipline helps to build resilience and mental strength to continue.

My journey as a writer has not been a smooth ride all through. I once struggled to write, not because I don’t have what to write most often time, to get started was the issue. I have abandoned some projects I was working on due to lack of self discipline. Learning and practicalising it now has made a huge difference in my life.

Practical Steps to Develop and Strengthen Self-Discipline.

The actionable steps you need to Develop and strengthen self discipline include the following;

1. Set clear, Achievable Goals; Break down big goals into smaller tasks.
2. Building consistent routine; Habits strengthens discipline.
3. Get rid of distractions. Identify things that are not important and set boundaries.
4. When feeling lazy, use “5-Minute Rule” commit to just 5minutes.
5. Track your progress with a journal or tracker.
6. Celebrate your progress.
7. Find a person that you can be accountable to.

What to Do When You Feel Like Giving Up.

1. Be compassionate to yourself.
2. Normalize setbacks.
3. Remember why you get started in the first place.

In conclusion, discipline is like a muscle anyone of us can build but it takes a lot of determination.

Is there any goal you’re working on currently? Or a time when self-discipline paid off?