The Power of Discipline

The Power of Discipline is a book written by Daniel Walter. Everyone wants to become self-disciplined , but does not find it easy. Here this book comes to our help and explains how to master self-discipline. 

1.Self-discipline is a biological process: 

Meaning and nature of discipline: Discipline is the ability to focus on one course of action until that goal has been accomplished. Discipline is about doing what you know you've got to do even when you don't feel like it. 

According to the author self-discipline is a biological process. Self-discipline does not come on its own, but it is to be developed. Childhood is the time when the things are learnt easily , but it is never too late to learn and you can develop self-discipline at any age.

The following points are noteworthy to know about self-discipline:-

1. Self-discipline is a skill you can master if you are willing to work at it.

2. Self-discipline and focus work simultaneously.

3. Will power and self-discipline lose strength when they have been put to work and wear down.

4. The best way to build discipline is to remove yourself from temptation. For example, if you are tempted to unhealthy foods, go for shopping after dinner.

5. For self-discipline, consistency of efforts is very important. Consistency builds momentum and that's how dreams become a reality.

Remember, there is a biological process to discipline, and similarly to any other habit, the brain 🧠 is more programmed to accept it as the norm the more you practise it.

2. The benefits of self-discipline:

Self-discipline-

i. Raises your self-discipline

ii. Helps you build better relationships

iii. Enables you to handle constructive discipline

iv. Enables you to avoid risky behaviours.

3. The status quo bias-why we resist change

We want to maintain the status quo because of the following reasons:-

i. The sunk cost fallacy:- Generally this tendency is called inertia, which means people choose to do nothing and carry on as normal.

ii. Loss Aversion theory:- According to this theory, people don't like losing things.

iii. The fear of regret:- No one wants to make a change and then regret it.

iii. The mere exposure effect:- The more we experience a particular phenomenon, the more we are likely to accept and like it.

To overcome the above limitations, we can undertake a  thought evaluation exercise which is to put your rational decision-making abilities to good use and build the life you want. 

Chapter 4-A reality check-the Dunning - Kruger effect

It is important to know what you are good at and what you are not. When you know the areas in which you are not good, you have to keep developing yourself, associate with the people who are good in those areas and so on.

Chapter 5- Daily habits to improve self-discipline

Habits are routine behaviours performed without putting any conscious thoughts into them. Your habits are reflection of your character. 

Daily habits to improve self-discipline

i. Your morning routine:- Your morning routine will set the pace for the rest of your day. Your morning routine should consist of exercise, healthy breakfast and so on. Praying and meditation in the morning also helps you keep positive throughout the day.

ii. The final hour of the day:- When you end your day after work, you need enough sleep for renewing the body and resting the mind so that you can be productive the next day. If you take a nap during the day, restrict it to 30 minutes. Avoid stimulants such as caffeine and nicotine in the evening which will stimulate the brain to stay awake. Eat right food in dinner and avoid rich, heavy, fatty foods and carbonated drinks as these can cause painful heartburn in the middle of the night and interrupt your sleep. Prepare the body for sleep by establishing a relaxing bedtime routine like having a warm bath, reading a book etc. There should be right environment with comfortable mattress, pillow etc.

iii. Gratitude:- Express  gratitude, say 'thank you' for small things rather than complaining or waiting big things to happen.

iv. Set daily goals:- You can achieve long-term goals by breaking them down and setting daily goals for yourself.

v. Stay organised:- Organisation and self-discipline go hand in hand. It improves productivity, reduces stress, enhances energy and enthusiasm and creates positive image for you.

6: Tips for building better habits

The Navy SEALS are some of the most disciplined people in the world. They are trained to understand that the mind is more powerful than we can ever imagine.

The 40% Rule :-According to this rule, when the mind starts telling the body is tired, we have reached only 40% of what we are capable of. If you know this principle, you can achieve more.

Box breathing:- This is a technique used by Navy SEALS to stop stress.

The 10 X Rule:-Grant Cordone, the pioneer of this rule, suggests that we should set goals ten times higher than the desired outcomes because it will make us take ten times more action to achieve it.