How has self-discipline shaped our existence?

“For a man to conquer himself is the first and noblest of all victories.”
– Plato

PLATO is one of my favorite philosophers during my college days. I chose this quote because it reminds me of how it is related to self-discipline. As Plato stated, “For a man to conquer himself is the first and noblest of all victories.” So, what does this mean? I think the majority would ask the same thing, especially the younger generations. What I understand from his quote is to comprehend the strengths and weaknesses you have and take control of your future. Conquering your ego to take the crucial steps for improvement.

Everyone follows discipline in a different form. Every one of us in a society has their prospect of discipline. People consider it a part of their life and some don’t. It is a variety of guides that direct a person on the right path.

Discipline is a subject that generates a bunch of interest. It is something that keeps every individual in control and motivates them to progress in life and achieve success. I think we all know to some degree that our level of discipline is the discrepancy between sticking to bad habits and staying where we are or developing good habits that will allow us to move closer to a better future.

Understanding how to effectively direct yourself and others all boils down to discipline. It may be hard to believe when you think about it when you are facing an all-you-can-eat buffet when you are trying to lose weight, following your daily schedule without any mistakes or going with the flow without any plans, the odds of making a quick buck, or the vague lure of sleeping in versus getting moving to go to a gym. People with self-discipline are happier than those who don’t. Why? Because with discipline and self-control, we achieve more of the goals we care about. Self-discipline acts like the bridge between goals defined and goals accomplished.

Without discipline, the life of a person will become dull and inactive. Furthermore, a disciplined individual can control and handle the situation of living in a more sophisticated way than those who do not. Moreover, if you have a plan and you want to enforce it in your life accordingly you need discipline. It makes things easy for you to deal with and eventually brings success to your life.

So, what are the benefits of Self-discipline?

First, It helps you to achieve your goals. Self-discipline people are more likely to commit to, and reach, important long-term life goals.

Second, It Improves your mental health. People who practice self-discipline have higher levels of self-confidence, happiness, and independence and ease their anxiety.

Third, It benefits your physical health. People who indicate self-discipline frequently engage in healthy habits and resist toxic ones.

Fourth, It improves your relationships with other people. Individuals with high self-discipline often establish stronger long-term relationships.

Fifth, It makes you more resilient. Self-discipline can improve your ability to bounce back from adversity. The more resilient you are, the more control you have over tendencies and delayed gratification.

Sixth, It helps you feel happier. If you’re more productive, the more creative and happy you are.

And lastly, it improves learning and enhances performance.

A study conducted by Angela L. Duckworth and Martin E.P. Seligman called “Self-Discipline Outdoes IQ in Predicting Academic Performance of Adolescents”. Research has shown that measuring a person’s level of self-discipline is a more accurate predictor of success than measuring their IQ.

Students with a high degree of self-discipline retain more knowledge and improvements in their performance than those without self-discipline.

Why is self-discipline important? And what are the effects of a lack of self-discipline?

So, Self-discipline helps you to stay mentally focused and retain a strong work ethic. It allows you to resist distractions, adhere to company policies, and consistently produce high-quality results. The lack of self-discipline can lead to a range of negative outcomes, including procrastination, missed opportunities, poor time management, underachievement, unhealthy habits, and a failure to reach your full potential. It can also lead to decreased productivity and complications in both your personal and professional life.

Hopefully, this will help you understand discipline a little better and build it into your own life. Through discipline, we can build better ways to live.

Another favorite quote of Plato,

“The first and greatest victory is to conquer yourself.”

If you can do it, you will achieve it.