When you’re a kid you learn to despise, cringe and dread even hearing the word ‘discipline.’ Hearing a parent utter the word meant something bad was about to happen. I was always grounded from something. Now I know that my parents were pretty much right on with the consequences they chose for my inappropriate or dangerous behavior but it still doesn’t make me like the idea. Now that I’m a parent I feel an equal dread for it. I do not want to discipline my daughter. I beg her not to make me follow through with my threatened consequences. Contrary to what the little girls probably think – I do NOT like time out.
With all of these negative feelings toward discipline in the back of my mind it’s difficult to entertain the notion that there is another kind of discipline which I should be seeking out rather than avoiding. Dictionary.com calls it an “activity, exercise, or a regimen that develops or improves a skill; training.“
Nearly everything in our lives characterized as beneficial is also difficult. Most great things don’t come easily. That’s where self-discipline comes in. You choose to do something annoying, difficult, painful or unwanted because your resolve to accomplish something great is stronger. Many things fall into this category: quit smoking/drinking, losing weight, exercising, eating healthy, waking up early, and you know I’m going to add – living frugal.
For the sake of the topics covered here I’ll focus on the frugal aspect but my personal reflection on this topic is much more broad. As I’ve reflected on the ‘tools’ that help me to live a frugal life I always come back to discipline. There isn’t any single thing I do that is insurmountable or extraordinary – but what makes all the difference is that I’m committed to it. I am disciplined with my meal planning. I am disciplined with conservation and avoiding waste. I am disciplined with my time – allowing me to accomplish many more things than I could otherwise. I’m no superwoman and I have plenty of bad days just like anyone else but the undeniable difference between my life before (the in-debt, wasteful, can’t-get-anything-done life) and my life now is self-discipline.
Sounds awful doesn’t it? You’re probably thinking I’m a severe and boring person who doesn’t have any fun. I like to think that’s not the case. I’m actually much happier and more fulfilled with my life right now. The great part is that I find self-discipline to be freeing. I feel an enormous sense of accomplishment and my life feels good when I put my laziness aside and do the things that need to be done. And that great feeling? It motivates me to keep going.
Several years ago I was stuck in a rut – a lazy rut. It was frustrating and I was constantly disappointed in myself. I think it’s because I was putting myself first, before the betterment of our family and I was neglecting things that should have been priorities. In the same manner that self-discipline is freeing, laziness is trapping. The longer you’re stuck – the more stuck you feel. I am so thankful I chose to turn things around. It’s been a slow process – full of discipline – but it has been SO good and so worth it.
I’m being pretty open here with all of my thousands hundreds of readers but I’m ok with that because I want you to know that I’m real and normal and I’m learning things too. In no way do I intend to reflect that I have everything together but rather that by chance and by blessing I occasionally stumble over something great.
~Thanks for being part of my written reflections, my thoughts spilling on the page and my self-revelation. You are some very cool people 
Why I do what I do ~ My daughter is SUCH a chatterbox. She gets talking so fast that she can’t even keep up with herself. Too bad if you have something to say because you’ll have a difficult time interjecting. I have trouble not recalling my grade school report cards (you know, back when teachers wrote personal comments on them). They always said something like this: Nicki is a joy to have in class but talks too much. Nicki is doing well but consistently chats with other students. Nicki excels but talks too much during class. Hmmmm … I’ll have a tough time coming down on her for that one.
photo credit: englishsnow
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{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Thanks so much for sharing your reality… it really does make me feel hopeful.
I could have typed the 6th paragraph myself.
Seriously.
I’ve been in denial for months and my rut is growing.
From one Nikki to another. Thanks!
Blessings….