The practice of discipline.
The irony isn’t lost on me that at the end of this summer I had decided I would be disciplined with publishing a blog post on the first each month. And yet here I am, on only the second month of that commitment writing this post 2 weeks later than I intended. What does that tell you? Discipline is hard!
But what does it actually mean to be disciplined? And why does it matter?
In the Cambridge dictionary one of the definitions of discipline is: training that produces obedience or self control. I love this definition, because for me that is exactly what discipline has done in my life - it has given me self control over habits that were starting to get out of hand. Coming from someone who loves going to the gym, runs a workout class and is always signing up for running events you’d probably assume that my focus would be on the importance of discipline in fitness. But actually I think the discipline over our minds, our flesh, our desires is the the most important for us to be able to thrive in every area of our lives.
In Romans 12:2 it says: Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
There’s a transforming of our minds that comes with practicing discipline - it is not something we just have, it something we have to choose to action each day. Two years ago I woke up unable to remember pretty much anything from the night before, except for the reason why I was so sad and why I had drank so much in the first place. The problem wasn’t that I was sad about something, the problem was that I lacked the self control to choose the healthy and best way to process how I was feeling. Instead I chose the easy option - to drink until I didn’t feel sad. And guess what? It didn’t work.
The truth was it had been a slippery slope for a while, I had actually been drinking pretty much every single day, and often alone. But instead of taking away any feelings of sadness, it resulted in more feelings of anxiety, fear and a very low mood. Not to mention the physical impact it was having on my body - the sugar cravings, the tiredness from lack of proper sleep and dehydrated skin. So when I decided I needed to make a change I had to be disciplined about it – I needed accountability and a positive routine.
It was the commitment to my new routine of starting each day in my bible and prayer, working out and running consistently, and not drinking any alcohol for 6 months that helped me develop the self control I needed to regain (or maybe never really had?!) The decision to not drink for 6 months was a promise I made to myself - for myself. I was determined not to break that promise, and I’m so glad I did because that one act of discipline enabled me to be able to commit to showing up for the gym and follow my marathon training plan.
It didn’t take long to instead of craving a bottle of wine, crave the high I got from pushing myself, from seeing how strong I could be, how far I could run. And how much closer to God I felt through it all. Recently I decided I needed a reset, and committed to not drinking for at least 6 weeks as there were a few moments where I had felt myself slipping into unhealthy habits again. I used discipline to keep myself in check, to re-establish my self control. And to make sure I practice what I preach.
I don’t know about you, but I’m running hard for the finish line. I’m giving it everything I’ve got. No lazy living for me! I’m staying alert and in top condition. I’m not going to get caught napping, telling everyone else all about it and then missing out myself. – 1 Corinthians 9:27
For me, the definition of discipline feels a little more like freedom. When it comes to our health and wellbeing, practicing discipline shouldn’t feel like following restrictive rules, it should feel like a love letter to yourself – your own personal commitment that is ultimately for your greater good. And trust me, when you see the pay off, the only question you’ll ask yourself is “why didn’t I do this sooner?”
What do you need to be more disciplined in, in order to experience more freedom?