June 2015
By Sunil Parikh
Without discipline, nothing can be achieved and contrarily, with discipline almost everything you are karmically entitled to, can be achieved, says Sunil Parikh, while telling you how.
Jitendra and Niyoci both attended my workshop at the same time. After six months, I noticed that Jitendra had achieved significant success in his life, while Niyoci was still struggling. Both had the same knowledge, understanding and awareness of success principles, yet only one of them achieved the real benefits of the workshop. Why? When I probed, I realised that Jitendra was diligently following my instructions from the workshop, while Niyoci was not. When I checked with Niyoci why she was not practising what was learnt, out came the standard response: “Sir, I just don’t have the time.” Jitendra had mastered the skill of self-discipline. He knew that unless he put his learning into daily practice, he would not get the results. Little wonder that his relationships improved, his business multiplied, and he became much fitter. He was also able to fulfil his long-awaited dream of driving 6,000 kms from Mumbai to Ladakh and back, and of gifting his father a luxury car.
Dr. Kamlesh faced the tragic closure of his factory due to a major fire. However, he meticulously practised what he was taught at the workshop, and was able to attract an investor and save his factory. Self-discipline was the key once again. Bina suffered from depression for over 18 years, but when she was introduced to various processes to cure herself, she practised them diligently, and emerged from its hold. This was possible because she was committed to good health.
Without self-discipline, nothing ever gets accomplished in any area of life, particularly in our spiritual journey. Without a daily spiritual practice and the cultivation of wholesome habits, we will not progress on the path. For eg, while most know that it is important to be thankful for what you have, few people actually practise this. It is the same excuse – no time. Finding the time to do these practices is critical because while they may not appear to give any tangible results in the short run, these processes bring one so much peace, harmony and goodness in the long run.
The Number One success principle
Which is the one principle of success that all successful people across the planet follow? It is the “Principle of Self-Discipline”. This has been confirmed over and over again by all success gurus across the planet.
Napolean Hill, the renowned author who has studied thousands of successful people, says: “The master key to success is self-discipline”
If you know a hundred success principles but have missed out on this one, chances are that you will not be able to achieve the level of success you want. It is self-discipline that enables us to use what we have learnt.
Self-discipline can be defined as: Doing the things that you need to do, when you need to do it, whether you like it or not.
There are certain things that unsuccessful people don’t like doing because they find it too hard. So they reside in ‘Someday Isle” thinking, ‘Someday I will exercise’, or ‘Someday I will do my accounting’. Successful people don’t like doing them either, but they know that not doing them is detrimental to their success. So they ensure that they do them when they need to, whether they like it or not. This is self-discipline.
Successful people always take a long-term view of their life, and their daily actions are in alignment with the long-term vision. They don’t get swayed by day-to-day temptations. They don’t believe in wasting their time on instant gratification. Unsuccessful people, on the other hand, look for instant gratification and only take a short-term view of things. Not getting swayed by temptations requires self-discipline. For instance, not eating dessert before dinner requires self-discipline. Switching off the TV, and using the time to read good books, requires self-discipline.
How does one achieve self-discipline?
This is a muscle that must be exercised and developed. Like any other skill, self-discipline can be learned. The first step to developing self-discipline is to be truly committed to our goals. When we are committed to achieving our goals, we develop the ability to resist temptations with relative ease, and use that energy to increase our momentum in moving towards our goals.
We must also be ready to make some sacrifices. You may not always be able to get what you want immediately. In the short run, it may be a little painful, but in the long run, you gain. We must keep focus on our long-term vision, and act in the present in a manner that takes us closer to our vision. Give up the urge for instant gratification. As time progresses you will see the benefits. Self-discipline becomes a habit. You will then notice that you achieve your goals much faster, which in turn builds your self-image, your character, and finally, your confidence. With a high level of confidence and passion for your goals, you can achieve whatever you wish to. As you achieve higher goals, you start becoming a different person.
Start practising self-discipline with small things: resist from eating that sweet, get up early, start exercising, spend more time with your child, and watch limited TV. Initially, you will need to force yourself, but with time, it will become a habit. If you do something consistently for 30 days, a new habit will automatically be formed. Then the task becomes effortless.
Self-discipline also requires the practice of controlling your thoughts. Every action is preceded by your thoughts. Hence, learning how to control your thoughts is also very important. Once you are able to do this, your actions will automatically fall into place.
The first step to developing self-discipline is to be truly committed to our goals. When we are committed to achieving our goals, we develop the ability to resist temptations with relative ease, and use that energy to increase our momentum in moving towards our goals
Here’s a simple way to get started on mastering self-discipline:
Ask yourself:
1) What is the one thing you can do to help you increase your income, and start doing it right away.
2) What is the one thing you can do to improve your relationships, and start doing it right away.
3) What is the one thing you can do to improve your health, and start doing it right away.
Then prepare a 30-day tracking sheet. Make sure you do the activity for 30 days in a row without a single break, and you will see that a new habit will get formed. This way, you can take up two to three habits that you would like to change, or new habits that you would like to create. In one year, you will have 25 to 35 new habits. I promise you, your life will change.
The key to mastering self-discipline is to get started and gradually you will see the muscle develop. Don’t wait for the right moment. Act now like Jitendra, Dr. Kamlesh and Bina did!
Good luck and may massive success come to you though self-discipline.
Bio: Sunil Parekh is an International Success Coach and a Mind Power trainer. He is the CEO of RISE Development Academy
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