Have you ever watched a baby learning to walk? Have you ever seen the joy on a parent’s face when the baby takes his or her first step? Whether assisted or unassisted, the first step a baby makes is a cause for parents and family to celebrate. When did we stop celebrating first steps and baby steps? When the baby takes two or three independent steps and falls, we praise the baby so highly for the steps and ignore the fall because we are so excited to see even the baby steps. Because we are excited, the baby becomes excited and encouraged to get up and try again.
Because I speak a lot about discipline I have been asked, “how does one become disciplined?” “Are there steps I can take?” “Is there a pill I can take?” Well, I haven’t been asked about the pill, but I am sure that someone has thought, “well they have medicines to help you focus, isn’t focus part of discipline.” Yes, there are such medicines but when I speak of discipline, I speak of the ability to discipline ourselves. I speak of a training we put ourselves through so that we can become masters of ourselves, and the boss over our bodies, emotions, minds, finances, temperaments, and every part of our lives.
Here are some baby steps you can take if you are serious about becoming more disciplined.
- Identify an area of your life that you would like to gain control over.
- Use whatever means you have at your disposal to convince yourself it is possible to manage and master that area.
- Take the risk of falling and take a step, even if you have to hold on to something, or someone, until you can make independent steps.
- Find someone who will celebrate your baby steps, encourage you when you fall, and patiently cheer you on until you find yourself running instead of walking.
- Encourage yourself, become your own cheerleader, laugh at your tumbles, and don’t quit until you have been promoted to supervisor over this area.
- Select another area of your life to exercise your new supervisory skills, and start with baby steps again.
If you follow these simple steps you will become disciplined for success, you will become your own supervisor, and you will become the boss of you!