How to Develop Self Discipline

Discipline means to make yourself act or work even if you don't feel like doing it. It is the habit of taking action regularly and developing self control.

According to Jim Rohn, it is the master key. It unlocks the door to wealth and happiness, culture and sophistication, high self-esteem and high accomplishment, and the accompanying feelings of pride, satisfaction, and success.

"Failure occurs each time we fail to think...today, act...today, care, strive, climb, learn, or just keep going...today." - Jim Rohn

See the end in mind.

Everyone seems to find it easier to get up in the morning to go to work than work on their personal growth. One of the reasons is because they can see the rewards and the repercussion of their action if they fail to turn up for work.

To improve the other areas of your personal life and to develop self-discipline, apply the same technique. See in your mind's eye the result of your daily persistent and constructive action and the pains you will suffer if you neglect to do the things that you should.

Want something badly enough.

If you want something badly, you will do everything you can and the best you can to get it. So to develop the habit of taking action, know what it is that you want and why you want it. Write it down and remind yourself daily of this goal. Better still cut out a picture of the thing you want, paste it somewhere you can carry along with you as a reminder.

Break down your tasks.

One of the possible reasons why you aren't disciplined enough is because you feel overwhelmed thinking of the process or the number of things that you have to do. When your life is disorganized and you don't have a "to do list," you don't know where and how to begin.

The solution is to list all the things that you think you have to do and then pick one that you can take immediate action and do it. When this becomes a habit, you will inevitably do something each day.

Be hard on yourself.

Promise yourself that by midnight, you must accomplish certain tasks, whether you like it or not. Make it a point that until you do the things that you should, you won't call it a day.

Use positive affirmation to reinforce.

Tell yourself several times a day that you choose to take consistent action and are willing to do the necessary. When you keep repeating these words, your mind will know that you are serious and agree that it is what you want.