More Discipline Or Regrets Later On?

It takes tremendous discipline to do what others choose not to do. Discipline to turn off the TV and read some material which will help you to grow, teach you new skills or expand your mindset. Discipline to leave a party early because you made a commitment to yourself to wake at a certain hour for meditation and exercise.

It is because of these commitments and promises to yourself that you are growing, seeing changes in yourself, ticking off goals and achievements as you reach them.

You know that to excel in a sport you have to learn the basics, master the techniques and then practice, practice, practice. The winner does not practice until he gets it right. He keeps going until he cannot do it wrong. So it is with any sport, skill, language that is worth learning.

If you make a commitment to be healthy and fit, is it worth starting with a small reachable goal such as walking ten minutes a day? You can build on that, make it a social time with your partner or alone time for yourself and your thoughts.

Remember that one of life’s heaviest burdens is great potential. You know what you want to achieve but only you are stopping you. Only you can step up the discipline.

Byrd Baggett says, "You’re either green and growing or ripe and rotting.” We all need to be growing and learning every day.

Here is another tip from Byrd: the 1/24/30 principle. Identify one habit in the next 24 hours and work on improving it for next 30 days. Just one, don’t aim too high. Experts say it takes 30 days to change a bad habit so if that is true, concentrate on just one habit for 30 days.

Successful people simply do what unsuccessful people won’t do. That’s won’t, not can’t.

When we look back on our life, we can either feel the pain of discipline or the pain of regret. How many people say, "I wish I had my life over. I would..." If you don't want to be one of the people with regrets, then step up your discipline.

Just one simple act every day can transform your life.

If not today, when are you going to start improving that one habit? I encourage you to start improving that one habit today.

© Antonia Harrison 2009 from Personal Development in the 21st Century