Friday Faith Foundations - You need self-discipline to succeed

If you want to succeed in life and business, you need mindset, strategy, action - and self-discipline.

We face many things in life, and if we want positive outcomes, we need self-discipline. It enhances our lives. We achieve more and are ultimately happier. The happier we are, the more success we have.

What does the Bible say about self-discipline?

In 2 Timothy 1:7 we read, "For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love, and self-discipline."

There we have it. God gave us self-discipline. And if he gave it to us, we are to use it. We may find it hard to be self-disciplined, but God gave us the Holy Spirit to help us. It is like a muscle. We have it, but if we don't use it, it won't get stronger. We build on our ability, with the help of the Holy Spirit, to be self-disciplined.

What are the benefits of self-discipline?

Many! Let's take a look at a few of the areas of our lives influenced by self-discipline.

Health - physical and mental

As you know, health is paramount. We have these incredible miraculous bodies and minds but we have to care for them. You must have a level of self-discipline if you are going to maintain a healthy mind and body. Eating healthy and exercising takes energy and many days it's easier to skip the workout and eat on the go instead of practicing healthy habits. Instead of thinking of either as a punishment, think of them as habits that you've created to nourish your mind and body.

Reframe your thoughts about the benefits of eating healthy and exercising. Then, create and implement a strategy to visualize what your habits will look like, and what you know you can adhere to. Take action consistently. You need self-discipline for all three, mindset, strategy, and action. If you aren't disciplined and don't adhere to the strategy and action, you won't succeed and ultimately, put yourself at risk.

If it's too hard to adopt healthy eating and start exercising at the same time, choose one, and then add the other. But exercise is equally important to your mental health as it is to your physical health. The same with eating healthy whole foods. When you have self-discipline, you choose to take positive action and do the mindset work to reframe your thoughts, you create a strategy and implement it, and you take action consistently. The food you eat influences how you think and feel so self-discipline to eat healthy is of utmost importance.

It may feel like a sacrifice

In Romans 12:2, Paul tells us, "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." Sometimes, we must do the hard thing and not conform to what society is influencing us to do or think.

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Struggling to grow your business and need accountability?

If you are struggling to grow your business because you haven't yet tapped into your self-discipline and need accountability to take intentional effective action, schedule a free consult with me. Let's see how I can help you.

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