DEVELOPING GREATER SELF-DISCIPLINE

Happiness and the achievement of goals in life results from having a wide range of
positive qualities. And no quality is more important in the attainment of long-term
sustainable success than self-discipline.

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Whether you seek to enhance your relationships, work ethic, or health, nothing beats
self-discipline as the principal trait needed to achieve your goal.

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Building new habits and incorporating them into your daily routine can be difficult,
especially in the beginning.

All your natural behaviors will tend to pull you backwards into your old habits. You
might notice yourself using excuses such as not having enough time, being too tired
or being engulfed in a negative mindset about giving up.

Moving past these doubts and keeping up with those new goals you set for yourself
can be extremely challenging. At the end of the day, this is why it is called
“change”.

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Going through this zone of uncertainty and making it out victorious on the other
side, is what self-discipline is all about.

Although self-discipline doesn’t always come naturally, the good news is that it can
be a learned behavior. Try out these techniques to attain greater self-discipline.

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Remove temptation
Removing temptation from your environment is a critical first step on your journey
to increased self-discipline. The development of self-control as an attribute is one
instance in which the saying “out of sight, out of mind” rings so true.

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For instance, if you are looking to cut down on distractions (such as social media)
and focus on your job, you need to turn off your mobile notifications and block all
social media until you get off work.

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In the example of weight loss, you would want to remove the unhealthy foods from
your cabinets and pantry to make achieving your goal that much easier.

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Similarly, if you are trying to take control of your expenses and learn how to budget,
remove your go-to browsing and shopping websites and apps, and take control of
your impulses, so you can make conscious choices that bring you closer to the goals
you have set for yourself.

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Never think there will be a perfect time
Kick the habit of waiting for all things to align perfectly before embarking on your
journey to self-discipline. If you are looking to enhance self-control, it has to start
with you. Embrace simple things such as changing your daily routine, breaking bad
habits such as negative thinking, and instead actively developing new habits even if
it does not feel right in your mind.

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But simply start now, instead of thinking there will be a better time. Start small and
reward yourself for achieving each step in the right direction. Implement a small
change every day for a week and when you feel ready to commit even further to the
goal, add another step to your habit. The best time to start is NOW!

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Reward yourself for achievement
Being self-disciplined does not mean you have to become miserable or adopt a cold-
turkey, drill sergeant type of life. In fact, by being too rigid, you are opening
yourself up to disappointment, failure, and the possibility of falling back into the old
habits.

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Instead, have days when you relax your regimen. When you reward yourself, you
relieve the tension that may result from self-disciplined living.

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Don’t beat yourself up for backsliding
At some point, you will fall into some old habits. However, the important thing is
not to beat yourself up, but rather to pick yourself up and recommit to the journey.

You have to accept that there will be spectacular failures and fabulous successes.
Don’t get too hung up in frustration, guilt, and anger, but rather acknowledge
mistakes as an essential part of the learning process.

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Give yourself a pat on the back for recognizing what is wrong with that habit or
behavior and analyze how you will respond differently the next time you face a
similar situation.

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Ultimately, developing self-discipline will allow you to live more freely by making
choices that are more positive, healthy, and allow you to embody and slowly bring
to life, the person you strive to be!
To find out more about building good money habits and taking control of your
finances, check out our Money Mindset course, and reach all your money goals!

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