Why is discipline difficult

One day a professor in medical school was discussing a particularly complicated concept in physics class. A student rudely interrupted, “Why do we have to learn this stuff?”

“To save lives,” the professor responded and continued the lecture.

A few minutes later, the same student spoke up again. “So how does physics save lives?” he persisted.

“It usually keeps the idiots like you out of medical school,” replied the professor.

Learning stuff is a discipline that’s important in the work we do, whatever work it is. When I talk about this in my seminars, I would ask, “Is discipline important?” And everyone in my class would say, “Of course it is!”

But if it’s so important, how come most people ignore it?

Well, because for one, it’s difficult to develop.

Another reason why many people feel negative about the word “discipline” is because they associate it with punishment. Go back to your school days. Isn’t it that if you didn’t do your homework you will be disciplined? Now fast-forward to your workplace. Isn’t it that if you don’t comply with company rules and regulations, you will be disciplined? There are even churches that are so fond of “disciplining their people”.

This concept of discipline shuts people off to another, better concept of discipline – that which will enable them to do things that are good for them. Basically, discipline is a process one goes through for strengthening and reward that wouldn’t have been possible if the person didn’t go through it. 

Discipline involves efforts that enable us to be in a place or condition better than where we started off. And this applies to everything in life. For instance, before I could give seminars, I had to go through the discipline of studying. My daughter Hannah had to take French lessons in preparation for her studying Paris. This is helping her advance her career in fashion. My youngest, Rachel, is now taking up Korean – not because she loves watching Koreanovelas, but because she loves to learn their culture. So now, she can afford to go to Korea and do better than just speak English slower and louder.

Before you could play the piano, you have to go through the discipline of practice. Before you can get a healthy body, you have to go through the discipline of a healthy lifestyle. There are certain things we need to do to enable us to become better. And doing those things entails discipline.

Endeavors need action. Endeavors need practice. The reason most Lotto winners end up with more miserable lives is because they arrived at their “success” without going through the process of discipline and effort. Harry Emerson Fosdick says, “No horse gets anywhere till he is harnessed. No steam or gas ever drives anything until it is confined. No Niagara is ever turned into light and power until it is tunneled. No life has ever grown great until it is focused, dedicated, disciplined.”

He is so right!

(Develop your leadership skills with Francis Kong this May 4-5 at the EDSA Shangri-La Hotel. Call Pam or Krisselle of Inspire Leadership Consultancy Inc. at 632-6872614 or 09178511115 for further details.)