How to Increase Your Discipline
One day, I stepped on the scale and was thrilled to see that I had lost 6 pounds. Exactly one month later, I had not only gained those 6 pounds back, but an additional 6 pounds. The reason why I went from being down 6 pounds to gaining 12 has everything to do with DISCIPLINE.
When I started my weight loss journey, I was well aware it started with a mindset change just like all transformations do. I had to actively decide that I desired reaching my goal more than I desired the comfort and stagnation of being the same. This doesn’t just apply to weight loss, though. I had to go through similar decision-making when it came to getting my Master’s Degree, moving to a different state, and starting a nonprofit organization.
Discipline is often prayed for or blamed as the reason behind goals falling to the wayside, when in reality, the problem starts with your mindset. Discipline is tied to doing, whereas mindset is tied to thinking. Here are a couple of ways to shift your mindset to increase your discipline:
1) Daily Affirmations
By creating mantras or affirmations that are directly tied to to goal you are reaching, you will be able to reinforce the belief that they are true. I change out my affirmations each month because it gives me enough time to truly believe in the words I am saying, in addition to fine-tuning the affirmations for my current situation. For example, I am in a season where I can focus on investing in myself and my businesses, so my June affirmations are:
2) Journaling/Habit Tracking
Before you start making the change, notate the thoughts, feelings, and habits you currently possess. By keeping track of these, you will be able to better understand your pitfalls and roadblocks. If you are having similar negative thoughts each day about your body, they may be showing up in your wardrobe. You are likely wearing comfortable, baggy clothes to hide your body, not realizing you are reinforcing those thoughts. Once you recognize these patterns, begin to create a plan to combat them. This shows up for me with exercise. I would ruminate over not liking how my clothes fit, but despised the thought of driving to the gym after a long day of work, working out when it’s crowded, and I didn’t enjoy at-home body weight workouts. To combat my pattern of not working out because of those roadblocks, I found a way to make my desire to exercise work for me. Instead of going to the gym at 6 pm when everyone is there, I go early in the morning as a way to jumpstart my day. Starting my day at the gym removes all the barriers I originally created with my thoughts. Now I can replace the negative patterns with a schedule that makes me want to go to the gym!
3) Replace Excuses with Execution
Discipline is made more difficult when excuses are introduced. Combat those excuses with execution, whether that shows up as executing the action or executing a reframe for that excuse. This tip alone will close the gap between Gratitude and Delusion. When your thoughts say you can’t make money with that idea, reframe that into executing the idea and letting the profit speak for itself. Or, when you begin to think that rain is a sign not to go for a walk, consider that the rain may be encouraging you to cleanse yourself of negativity and reconnect with your true, grounded nature.
Remember: your thoughts become your beliefs, and those beliefs become your actions. Everything starts with your mind. When you’re ready to clarify which thoughts truly serve you, check out the Chaos to Clarity Guided Journal.
