Importance Of Self Discipline – Learn How to Say NO to Yourself
Looking for tips on the importance of self discipline? Here are 5 easy ways to develop more self control in life with ease.
Let’s chat about the importance of self discipline.
Today’s I want to talk about the importance of learning to say NO to yourself (yes, YOU!) when the moment calls for it.
So what do I mean by this? Saying NO to yourself when the moments calls for it means saying no to procrastination, no to laziness, no to indecision, no to time wasters etc. We all need to say “no” to ourselves several times each day.
However, it’s not always easy.
Many of our negative urges are habitual, but many are programmed and hard to shift.
For example, we’re programmed to indulge in pleasure and avoid pain – even if doing these things leads to overindulgence and staying stuck in life.
Gaining control over yourself can go a long way toward building a great life! You should never underestimate the importance of self discipline.
Use this following process to strengthen your self discipline:
IMPORTANCE OF SELF DISCIPLINE
TIP # 1 – Stop and think.
Imagine you get the random urge to run out and buy a cheeseburger. Or maybe it’s the desire to spend more money than you should. Stopping and pausing for a moment can make a massive difference in what comes next – that is, whether you say NO to this desire or give in and say YES.
- It’s important to break your train of thought, or you’ll continue down your current path and do as you’ve always done.
- Stop and reorient yourself.
- Take a look around and name five things you see.
- Take a deep breath and describe what you smell.
- What can you hear?
- What is the temperature of your environment?
- Describe the feeling of your clothes against your skin.
IMPORTANCE OF SELF DISCIPLINE
TIP # 2 – Notice the urge.
Return to thinking about the action you want to take.
How does it feel in your body?
It’s not just a thought. It triggers a particular physical feeling.
Where is it? Focus on that part of your body and notice what happens.
- If you’re patient, the feeling will fade.
IMPORTANCE OF SELF DISCIPLINE
TIP # 3 – Consider the long-term perspective.
What will it mean if you follow through?
How much does that $300 item cost you over 10 years?
What will a bowl of ice cream mean to your waistline and your health?
What is the downside of continuing with your urge?
Make a list of reasons why you shouldn’t do it.
IMPORTANCE OF SELF DISCIPLINE
TIP # 4 – Find a positive alternative.
If you’re craving something sweet, maybe a piece of fruit would be a better option.
Whatever you have the urge to do, think of a positive alternative that will provide a similar benefit.
Consider the long-term implications of these more positive actions.
IMPORTANCE OF SELF DISCIPLINE
TIP # 5 – Tell yourself, “I don’t.”
If offered something we know we shouldn’t eat, we might respond with, “I can’t eat xyz.”
It turns out that it is much more effective to say, “I don’t eat xyz.”
Studies have shown that using, “I don’t” is up to 10 times more effective.
“I don’t” feels more like a choice.
“I can’t” feels like a limitation.
- I don’t miss workouts.
- I don’t eat chocolate.
- I don’t smoke.
- I don’t stay up late when I have to go to work the next day.
- I don’t waste money on things that don’t matter.
Imagine how easy life would be if you could tell yourself no and follow through on it.
You’d find it easier to commit, to make decisions, to take action on your goals, to save and have more money, to be well-rested, and avoid many of the issues that can make life so challenging.
IMPORTANCE OF SELF DISCIPLINE
Bad habits would be unheard of if you could just say “no” and mean it. This is the true importance of self control.
Developing self discipline is a skill that requires time to master. It’s not reasonable to just assume you can take the knowledge and change your life overnight.
However, you can make a huge difference in the quality of your life very quickly.
Avoid underestimating the power of the word, “No.”
It isn’t a dirty word that you need to avoid at all costs.
There are many moments when saying NO to yourself or someone is actually saying YES to the things that are ultimately more important in life – such as your mental and physical well-being, your priorities, your potential success and your dreams.
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I’m Frances Vidakovic – a mindset & action coach for quietly ambitious women who want to stop overthinking and finally take aligned action. I help women achieve their goals and follow through on what matters, without sacrificing their sanity or soul.