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SerbianSausage · 10-14-2007, 11:23 PM

SELF DISCIPLINE:

One of my favourite things!

Self Discipline isn't making your whole life into something resembling prison or military life where every second is planned and accounted for, but is simply making a commitment to do something (usually the same thing day in day out) and to keep it. No wimpy excuses.

That separates the 95% of average from the 5% of exceptional folk. If it was easy everyone would be disciplined and successful but we all know that that isn't true - only around 5-10% of people manage it consistently.

Steve's 30 Day experiments are the best example of building self discipline. You build a habit by doing it every day until it becomes effortless. I really think this is one of the great techniques - and these "experiments" nearly always yield tangible results.

Cases in point
Savings: I made a commitment in late 2005 to save 10% of my after tax income. I get paid monthly so had to pay myself every month; difficult to do the few first months but now it's effortless. Also, I found that as I started to save I actually got better at making money. This year I have had several paychecks between $8,000 and $10,000 (after tax) and putting away $800-1,000 in savings hasn't fazed me. Result: about $18,000 in savings which earns $90 per month in interest through my ING Direct Savings Maximiser.

Keeping Tidy
As a teenager and growing up in a very untidy home, I had terrible habits of not washing dishes and of leaving things lying around - amongst other things. After reading a Jim Rohn article again in 2005 about self discipline, I resolved to wash up immedately after a meal and to hang my suit up as soon as I got in from work - for 30 days. Formerly I would drape it on a chair or over a bed. Well......now I literally can't imagine NOT washing up or hanging up my clothes. The very thought of not keeping my house in good order sends shivers up my spine!

Coffee:
This was very tough. After trying about 7 or 8 times, I managed to give up coffee on 6th June 2006 and I have not touched any since. This has to be one of the hardest things I have ever done. I only had 2 espressos per day, but I was very addicted; I know this because when I tried to stop - my body would shut down and I would get pounding headaches. However, I couldn't bear the thought of being a slave to the bean for the rest of my life so held on and after about a week the withdrawal subsided. Now I sleep so much better, have consistent energy throughout the day and have even greater self discipline that I can apply to other endeavours.

I would encourage anyone to get disciplined. In fact, self discipline coupled with proper use of thought control/visualization is the only technique that has ever given me any meaningful results. I have no interest in "feel good" books or anything like that; the extent to which your external reality changes is when techniques and your own application of them is really put to the test.

Just get it done!

10-14-2007, 11:23 PM	#13 (permalink)
SerbianSausage Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Germany Posts: 13	SELF DISCIPLINE: One of my favourite things! Self Discipline isn't making your whole life into something resembling prison or military life where every second is planned and accounted for, but is simply making a commitment to do something (usually the same thing day in day out) and to keep it. No wimpy excuses. That separates the 95% of average from the 5% of exceptional folk. If it was easy everyone would be disciplined and successful but we all know that that isn't true - only around 5-10% of people manage it consistently. Steve's 30 Day experiments are the best example of building self discipline. You build a habit by doing it every day until it becomes effortless. I really think this is one of the great techniques - and these "experiments" nearly always yield tangible results. Cases in point Savings: I made a commitment in late 2005 to save 10% of my after tax income. I get paid monthly so had to pay myself every month; difficult to do the few first months but now it's effortless. Also, I found that as I started to save I actually got better at making money. This year I have had several paychecks between $8,000 and $10,000 (after tax) and putting away $800-1,000 in savings hasn't fazed me. Result: about $18,000 in savings which earns $90 per month in interest through my ING Direct Savings Maximiser. Keeping Tidy As a teenager and growing up in a very untidy home, I had terrible habits of not washing dishes and of leaving things lying around - amongst other things. After reading a Jim Rohn article again in 2005 about self discipline, I resolved to wash up immedately after a meal and to hang my suit up as soon as I got in from work - for 30 days. Formerly I would drape it on a chair or over a bed. Well......now I literally can't imagine NOT washing up or hanging up my clothes. The very thought of not keeping my house in good order sends shivers up my spine! Coffee: This was very tough. After trying about 7 or 8 times, I managed to give up coffee on 6th June 2006 and I have not touched any since. This has to be one of the hardest things I have ever done. I only had 2 espressos per day, but I was very addicted; I know this because when I tried to stop - my body would shut down and I would get pounding headaches. However, I couldn't bear the thought of being a slave to the bean for the rest of my life so held on and after about a week the withdrawal subsided. Now I sleep so much better, have consistent energy throughout the day and have even greater self discipline that I can apply to other endeavours. I would encourage anyone to get disciplined. In fact, self discipline coupled with proper use of thought control/visualization is the only technique that has ever given me any meaningful results. I have no interest in "feel good" books or anything like that; the extent to which your external reality changes is when techniques and your own application of them is really put to the test. Just get it done!