Photo by Pete Wright on Unsplash

My friend wondered how I stayed disciplined. We enjoyed a nice workout together and we were chatting about life’s problems and dreams in all places but a sauna. He was curious to know how I excelled in discipline. I was curious how much longer I could handle the sweat. 

Discipline falls under the virtue of temperance—the ability to have harmony and control over one’s passions and desires. I think it helps with aligning these appetites to rightly ordered principles. These could be pillars such as excellence, justice, prudence, etc. 

My athletic background gave me a chance to practice discipline. I once trained part-time at the provincial level for competitive swimming. We had early morning workouts and evening swims. My day would start at 4:40 AM and I wouldn’t arrive home until dinner. It was a particularly tough season and I don’t go through that rigorous training anymore. But I learned a lot about discipline then that I think helps me now. I learned how to fight that snooze button. And I learned how to manage my time, take care of my body, and compete at a high level.

I also think my spiritual background helps with being disciplined. I am a Roman Catholic and we undergo a yearly season of prayer and fasting during 40 days of Lent, which actually starts this week. We take on small sacrifices so we can unite ourselves with the suffering of Jesus Christ, who died on the Cross for our sins.

Whether we are training for sport or going through seasons of fasting, discipline is key. What is the end goal to disciple? I wouldn’t say discipline for the sake of discipline is good. I think it points to something greater. Stephen Covey talked about the importance of growing in the habits of independence before the habits of interdependence. Discipline helps with private victories before winning at public ones.

There are three Ds that come to mind when I think about discipline. May it encourage us to fight for greater virtue.

Dream

It’s hard to engage in discipline because it is a bit painful. Who wants to give up chocolate for Lent? Who really wants to wake up so early for a hard workout? But that’s why it is super vital to dream about why we are disciplining ourselves. There’s a greater purpose behind the small sacrifices. What are they? We could write them down so we’re reminded of it.

Decide

Disciple engages the will. The ability to choose one thing over another in spite of how hard it might be. Discipline engages a powerful force within us that I believe is oftentimes kept passive and dormant. The will is strong. It is powerful and can unlock so much of our potential. It starts with a decision to begin and a decision to persevere. Put flitting feelings and passions aside. Decide.

Deny

Part of the decision to be disciplined is to practice self-denial. And yes, I say practice. A spiritual mentor reminded me many times that to grow in a virtue, like patience for example, we just have to practice it. The small denials lead to greater victories. If I can say no to something small, would I be capable of saying no to the harder things? Very possibly.

Discipline is hard to come by in a society that esteems the gratification of pleasure and the real convenience of fulfilling our wants. Leaders know that discipline is a training program to cultivate greater self-mastery and control, as a greater good awaits. A no now becomes a greater yes later.

What area are you looking to be disciplined this season?