The word self-discipline, unfortunately, gets villainized in the media. It is usually portrayed in a bad light–one of want, despair, and going without. It is painted as being restrictive and limiting. And if you listen to this siren song, you may even find this word as a convenient alibi to why you are not reaching your goals.
Contrary to what popular media may have you believe, self-discipline is incredibly powerful. Once you learn to appreciate and harness the power of self-discipline, you will excel in your career in medicine and in your personal life.
According to Webster’s dictionary, self-discipline is “a correction or regulation of oneself for the sake of improvement.” I prefer a better interpretation, one defined by Jocko Willink, a former US Navy Seal. “If you want freedom, then you need to have discipline…the more discipline you have in your life the more you’ll be able to do what you want. That’s not true initially; initially, the discipline might be things you don’t want to do at the time, but the more you do things that you don’t want to do, the more you do the right things, the better off you’ll be and the more freedom you’ll have…”
Of the dozens of principles that I talk about on the traits of a successful physician and the skills needed to develop a growth mindset, the one skill that all great physician leaders have is that of self-discipline.
So let’s get started.
Start with your Goals
Regardless if you are striving to be a chief medical officer at your tertiary care center or a successful entrepreneur, the fundamental element of a successful person is that of self-discipline. So, as Jack Canfield, author of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, mentions, begin with the end in mind.
Be intentional in your decision to improve. Do you want to lose weight? Learn to play the guitar? Be a department chairman? What it may be, write these SMART Goals down. This is your chance to have big dreams. So do it. Dream BIG.
As the new year is upon us, let’s make it a reality and put a plan to action.
“A goal without a plan is just a wish.” Antoine de Saint-Exupery
Resources
- Goal Setting for Physician Wellness
- 5 habits for a better morning–The ARISE Ritual
- The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Jack Canfield
Create the Habit
Self-discipline thrives on good habits. Note, I intentionally used the phrase “good habits” as most people never achieve their goals because of laziness and lack of motivation. Remember, the choice to remain stagnant and coast through life is a habit–a negative habit, but a habit nonetheless.
When many people claim they have no self-discipline, it usually falls into the category of not creating good habits. You can generally pick out these individuals as they despair and say, “I just don’t have the willpower” or “I don’t have the ability” and the ever-present “I just don’t have the time.” You may have even said these things yourself, I know I have been guilty of all of these.
While I want you to dream big and to have bold, audacious goals, part of setting up a habit requires you to start small and increase your habit in small ways. Pick a habit that is easy to do at first, so you don’t need an incredible amount of motivation to succeed. Celebrate the win and move forward.
Resources
- Achieving Physician Wellness through Powerful Habits
- Stop Delaying Physical Wellness: A Simple Plan to Start Today
Self-Discipline Requires Practice
Taking this one step farther, once you have started this habit, keep practicing and honing it. It is in this practice that real growth occurs. This practice gives you the power to stick to your goals without changing your mind when things get difficult.
Not all practice is the same, though. To achieve the results that I want for you, deliberate practice is needed. This type of practice requires focus and attention with the clear intent of achieving a specific goal. No mindless repetition. It’s wasteful and nonproductive.
Jim Rohn, American entrepreneur, author, and motivational speaker, says this perfectly as it relates to habits, “success is a few simple disciplines, practiced every day; while failure is simply a few errors in judgment, repeated every day.”
Resources
Self-Discipline is Not Cheap
To achieve the greatness that I want for you, realize that it will cost you–be it time, energy, or even relationships. You will make mistakes and get off track. And I love that. For it is in those moments that your discipline will outlast others.
Recognize all of us make errors. We have bad days too. I expect that of you and me. But are you ready to get back at it? Learn from the lesson and get back at it. Research has shown that missing a habit once has no long term impact on your overall discipline but never miss two days in a row. It will derail you.
For me, consistently working out has been my struggle. I use Mike Matthews’ Bigger, Leaner, Stronger Program. After some trial and error, I have found that working out three days in a row and taking one day off is my sweet spot. Prior missing two days in a row would creep to three, then four days in a row.
Resources
- Learning from Failure: A Physician’s Guide
- Self-Sabotage: A Physician’s Worst Enemy
- 5 Ways to Overcome Failure: A Doctor’s Guide
- Stop Delaying Physical Wellness: A Simple Plan to Start Today
- Bigger, Leaner, Stronger by Michael Matthews
Many physicians acknowledge the importance of self-discipline. Many will claim that they have an incredible supply of it, or they would not have become a physician. That’s only partially true, though; are you achieving your goals or “just doing enough” to get through the day?
Recognize that self-discipline is a skill that can be learned. It does require practice and a growth mindset. Add the skills I just discussed, and you will be on a well-paved road toward reaching a level of success that you only dreamed of achieving.
Go get it today. Let’s get started together.
Until next time, be good to yourself and each other.
