The Remarkable Benefits of Self-Discipline
The act of discipline was intentionally embedded into God’s design and creation of humanity. Practicing and increasing self-discipline is imperative so that we avoid falling prey to the sins of our flesh through our most common temptations. These temptations can derail us from reaching our full potential or missing a blessing God has in store for us. 2 Timothy 1:7 states, “For God gave us a spirit not of fear, but of power and love and self-control. Through our harnessing of self-control through the practice of discipline, we open ourselves up to a greater power over our mind, body, and connection to our spirit. Everyone has dreams and visions for their future, but not everyone is willing to implement the necessary habits and behaviors to achieve it. One of the most important factors that determines getting us to our higher level is self-discipline. Self-discipline is a learned behavior and state of mind that enables you to take control of yourself, perform your tasks and duties, and ultimately reach your goals. While the Bible gives us seemingly endless instructions on why self-discipline is essential, many of us struggle to find practical steps and incentives to enduring the discomfort of practicing and mastering self-discipline. Below are a few benefits of self-discipline and why it is important to your personal and spiritual development.
You become more productive
When you have self-discipline, you are more likely to stay focused on important tasks and avoid distractions. This means that you can work longer and more efficiently, and get more done in less time. Productivity is essential for achieving your goals, and self-discipline is the key to unlocking your full potential.
You become more reliable
People who have self-discipline are more reliable because they take their obligations seriously and follow through on their commitments. When you become more dependable, you become more valuable to others, whether it’s in your personal relationships or at work. There is no substitute for a person that can be depended on day in and day out.
You become more confident
When you are self-disciplined, you experience joy and gratification that comes from accomplishing tasks consistently and well. This inner satisfaction translates to increased self-esteem and confidence in your abilities and the belief that you can achieve anything you set your mind to. Self-discipline gives one the motivation required to continue improving and growing.
You become more mentally and physically healthy
Self-discipline applies to not only things in our life that can affect our productivity, but also it encompasses our daily habits. This means practicing good habits, such as getting enough sleep, working out, eating healthy foods, practicing gratitude, engaging in consistent prayer, Bible study, and avoiding harmful substances or behaviors. These habits promote both mental and physical well-being, ultimately improving your life.
You become a better leader
People who have self-discipline often make excellent leaders because they can focus on their goals, manage their time well, and inspire others by example. Leaders require the ability to lead by example, mentoring, and inspiring their peers and staff. When someone has mastered self-discipline, it demonstrates to others that it will be hard work, but that the rewards are worth the effort.
Self-discipline is an essential component of both spiritual and worldly success in our lives. By enabling ourselves to take full control over our lives, we can improve our productivity, reliability, confidence, mental and physical health, and leadership abilities. It may seem daunting at first to work on self-discipline, but like all good things on this earth, it comes with patience, persistence, time, hard work, and temporary growth pains that produce a higher threshold to take on the next challenge and move up and forward in life. Through the practice of self-discipline, we can form healthy habits, build up a strong work ethic, and achieve lasting prosperity in our lives.