Self-Discipline

Self-discipline is something that is never fully mastered. I think that there are always going to be areas in our lives that we can improve through our different levels of self-discipline. I think that when I moved to Norman and started college, I knew that self-discipline was going to be something that had to be at the forefront of my mind. Without it, there's no way that I am going to reach my goals. Five areas that I feel like I could work harder on to improve my self discipline are:

1. SLEEP! My most difficult self-discipline area by far! I must, I must, I must, get MORE SLEEP! Making myself wind down and go to sleep is one thing that I most definitely put off until the very end. And when I say the very end, I mean the end--like eyes peaking through a very narrow field of vision caused by the natural desire for my lids to shut. I need to give them what they want way before they demand it. Haha!

2. Relationship building: I think that through all of the business of college, I need to take more time to build relationships with people. The academics can eat up all of my time, if I let it. I’m one of those study-till-you-drop kind of people, but I think that I need to try and make more time for relationships. I need to self discipline myself into putting a limit and/or developing a schedule for school work and then putting it down and making more time for relationships. I have met so many great people up here and have made tons of friends. But… I haven’t spent as much time just having some down time.

3. Fitness: When I came to college I made a goal for myself to workout at least 3-4 times a week. This goal was important to me because working out is a way for me to just feel good. It makes me feel healthy, accomplished, and energized. Confession: I have not stuck to this goal. I have been going 2 days a week for a class I have, but that’s it. When I don’t work out I feel more tired and lazy. Haha! For some reason I have a block that if its past the A.M., I’ve missed my opportunity to work out. I need to remind myself that the gym IS open in the P.M. haha!

4. Faith: I think this is something that I can always improve on. I want to be more disciplined and get back into my schedule. So…..I have been trying to read my bible more often, but I find myself remembering it when it’s way late at night. I want to make it more a part of my day, especially when I have to miss a Monday or Tuesday night service. So….as a reminder, I’m going to keep it where I will see it so that I will remember it before I’m dead tired. Last night when I sat down to read it I found this really neat verse: "We may throw the dice, but the Lord determines how they fall." Proverbs 16:33 That reminded me to let the Lord lead the way.

5. School work: In this aspect of my life, I think I need to make it more scheduled, so I am forced to have self-discipline and not wait until night time to do it. I recently made a schedule for my Art History class for the reading. I found out that by reading 8 pages (not bad, right?) a day, I would be done with the 130 pages by the next test, instead of bogging myself down the week before. So far, it’s going pretty good but I need to discipline myself in other subjects so that I can make it a habit. :)

Someone in my life who has a whole lot of self-discipline is my Oma. She is 76 years old and lives alone. My Opa died two years ago. Before he died, she always walked 3 miles around a track every morning around 6 AM. After he died, there was a little bit of time of when her scheduled stopped. But…before long, even though she was dealing with the loss of her husband of so many years, she committed to herself to start back. Her health is important, so she gets up at the crack of dawn to go walking 5 days a week. Whether it is cold or not. I admire her persistence. Like Casey Partridge was talking about today, once we get past the first 2-3 weeks, it becomes a habit. I can see this when I look at my Oma who has been walking 3 miles constantly for years. By making this goal she has become accountable to herself. Through my life, as I make goals, I become accountable to myself as well as others. Once I have a routine going, it becomes a habit. Once this habit is established, it becomes a way of my life. When I get off track, I feel like something is not right. This feeling of uncomfortableness keeps me accountable. I also become accountable to those around me as I make commitments and promises. I have a responsibility to follow through with those commitments, but with the help of a little self-discipline, I CAN accomplish my goals. :)