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This is my follow-up to last week's article on developing Christian self-discipline. https://twitter.com/redeemingprod/status/1333898377038323713
1. Remember that maturity does not come overnight.
You have to be patient. Discipline takes time. So take it slow and remember God is gracious toward us in our weakness.
You have to be patient. Discipline takes time. So take it slow and remember God is gracious toward us in our weakness.
2. Don't let emotions in the driver's seat.
“I don’t feel like it,” is never the right answer in response to Christian duty. Discipline is what helps us march faithfully through the valleys of life. If we let emotions drive our obedience, we will never get anywhere.
“I don’t feel like it,” is never the right answer in response to Christian duty. Discipline is what helps us march faithfully through the valleys of life. If we let emotions drive our obedience, we will never get anywhere.
3. Start by disciplining your mind with the truth.
Like any change we want to make, the choice to become disciplined is just that: a choice. And choices begin in the mind. More specifically, choices begin with a change in the way you view the world.
Like any change we want to make, the choice to become disciplined is just that: a choice. And choices begin in the mind. More specifically, choices begin with a change in the way you view the world.
4. Strive to have discipline mature into habit.
In the beginning, discipline requires willpower for us to do what we need to do. But as we continually make the right choices the need to draw on willpower diminishes. The disciplines you faithfully repeat eventually become habits.
In the beginning, discipline requires willpower for us to do what we need to do. But as we continually make the right choices the need to draw on willpower diminishes. The disciplines you faithfully repeat eventually become habits.
5. Remember that discipline always requires sacrifice.
Discipline always requires something to be sacrificed. And this may be things that are otherwise good. But if they are not the priority, they must be put to death.
Discipline always requires something to be sacrificed. And this may be things that are otherwise good. But if they are not the priority, they must be put to death.
6. Build on habits that are already working.
Your discipline will go much further if you invest it in building off of habits that you are already doing. Try to find things you already do every day and piggy-back off of that.
Your discipline will go much further if you invest it in building off of habits that you are already doing. Try to find things you already do every day and piggy-back off of that.
7. Harness waves of motivation to create systems.
Motivation cannot sustain long-term progress. That is what discipline is for. But motivation is not entirely useless. Like a lightning rod, you need to capture and store the energy of those sudden bursts of motivation.
Motivation cannot sustain long-term progress. That is what discipline is for. But motivation is not entirely useless. Like a lightning rod, you need to capture and store the energy of those sudden bursts of motivation.
8. Capitalize on every decisive moment.
Life is constantly presenting us with the choice between discipline or self-indulgence. Always choose the path of discipline, even in those smallest choices.
Life is constantly presenting us with the choice between discipline or self-indulgence. Always choose the path of discipline, even in those smallest choices.
I also talked through these concepts on the latest episode of my podcast. https://www.redeemingproductivity.com/podcast/practical-strategies-for-learning-self-discipline/
