Self-discipline as a spiritual experience

March 6, 2018

self-disciplineI’m not very disciplined.

Well, let me take that back. I’m not very self-disciplined about SOME things.  Self-discipline is very inconsistent.

I don’t always meditate, although I want to establish a regular practice.

I don’t always eat right, although I want the benefits of a great diet. I’ve never met a donut I didn’t like.

I don’t always exercise, although it’s something I think about. Especially after having a donut.

The other day I read that self-discipline is about making the higher choice again and again.

Two key phrases struck me:  higher choice and again and again.

Viewing things that are good for our mental, physical and emotional health as the higher choice casts them in a whole new light: one that I hadn’t considered before. Being good to ourselves is not just for the obvious physical and mental well-being we’ll get but also has a spiritual component.

Again and again acknowledges that each day we are given choices. We can change our mind at any time. I think that makes it harder but it also gives us second chances. Establishing good habits is all about making the higher choice each time we’re presented with options. That’s how habits are established.

I’m not sure why this struck me as such a significant message, but since it did, I’m hoping that this new view —of things that sometimes seem harder than I wish they were—will help me exercise self-discipline and make the best choice each time. 

I’d love your thoughts about this.

22 comments on “Self-discipline as a spiritual experience
  1. candy says:

    Self discipline is difficult with somethings. I love to cook and eat. We all have our free agency. What we decide to do everyday makes the difference in the good and bad in our lives.

  2. robin rue says:

    I don’t always make the right choices, but sometimes hind sight is 50/50 and they seem right at the time.

  3. Alli Smith says:

    I’m totally self-disciplined in some areas and in others, it’s kind of hit and miss. I need to remember that self-disciple is making the higher choice again and again. Love that quote!

  4. Franc Ramon says:

    It’s really hard to be disciplined but it can be done. It takes consistency and once we stick to being disciplined in what we do it becomes a habit.

  5. Alison Rost says:

    I agree with everything you said. It’s such a good realization. This is also why it’s not good to put the blame on people whenever something goes wrong, because we always have a choice

  6. Amber Myers says:

    I know I don’t always make the right choices, but ahh well, life is short. I’m going to have the donut. However, I do try to jog daily, so that’s something at least.

  7. I don’t think it’s possible to make the right choice 100% of the time. That would mean a person was perfect, and noone is perfect. We just need to learn from our decisions.

  8. Rena says:

    Some things yes, some no. I’ve never been able to fight the need for potato chips or sweet tea and I’m still fighting every single day to quit smoking.

  9. JEanette says:

    I can’t say that I am always self disciplined either. Somedays I’m truly strong and other days I am not. I always tell myself every morning that this is a new day and to try again.

  10. Diane says:

    Self-discipline is not popular these days. And its more needed than ever! Amazing how making the higher choices consistently about just one aspect can have such a profound effect on everything!
    Love this post, Carol!

  11. Hi Carol! I consider myself to be fairly self-disciplined but I still appreciate your affirmation. When we make choices from the perspective of the highest and best within us, how can they not lead to good? And yes to again and again and again. Thanks for these thoughts. ~Kathy

  12. Sarah Bailey says:

    I have to admit I am the same I do lack self-discipline in certain areas which is a bit of a shame, I definitely need to try and work on it.

  13. Sara Welch says:

    I catch myself in the same pickles all the time. I have a lot of issues with laying off the snacks.

  14. Its hard to refrain from eating sweets sometimes. Its always easy to keep sweets like fruits around tho.

  15. I’m pretty good with self-discipline. As an entrepreneur, I am good at getting to work and keeping myself accountable.

  16. Kelly Reci says:

    Self-discipline is difficult on so many levels. I always found an excuse for treating myself and starting yet another diet next week… it took years to finally start eating healthy at a consistent rate.

  17. Lisa Marie Heath says:

    I’m like you, in certain aspects of my life I am very disciplined. But in others? Not so much.. or even at all. It’s hard to do for everything without feeling like your life is overrun

  18. As we are entrusted with profound spiritual insights that come from our spiritual seeking, it is exceptionally easy to trick ourselves into believing that our intentions are pure and altruistic when in fact they are actually highly sophisticated expressions of our ego. Vulnerability is the key to unlocking our spiritual development rather than developing a spiritualized ego—where we only see our self in a positive light, identify our self with the spiritual gifts we have received, and place our shadow aspects onto others.

  19. Ricci says:

    I am AWFUL at self-discipline!! I need to buckle down and get my eating and working out back together!! Ugh…

  20. I am not really good with self-disciplined either, it comes in waves. Sometimes, I am so focus especially with working but sometimes I slipped too.

  21. Been trying to enhance my self-discipline. I must confess, its so hard for me to maintain it, yes really. So now, I am being able to live with it and trying to be consistent and practicing to make it a not a task but already a hobby.

  22. Debra Hawkins says:

    I am an all or nothing person. I am either completely self disciplined or not at all. It is a struggle.

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