Intentional Disciplines: Keeping on Track

“Off the beaten track.” This is a term that we use when we are away from the things we know, sometimes unintentionally and sometimes intentionally. This could be an adventure, a new situation, starting a business or a new relationship. When we go on these unexplored pathways, we need to be intentional and as planned as possible. But what about when we get off track?

While on a hike, Ashley wasn’t aware that she had deviated off the main track. It wasn’t until she stopped to take a break and looked at her map that she realised her error. She felt affirmed that she had marked the track, a discipline she had learnt from hiking with her father. She confirmed her position by GPS and compass and found that she was an hour off the main track.

Although the track she was on now would still take her to her destination, it would add another 4 hours. This was time she couldn’t afford, and she knew that if she were on the main track, she would only be an hour a way from her arrival point. It didn’t take her long to decide that she would get back on the main track and add only 2 hours to her hike. When Ashley arrived at her destination, she reflected on her hike and her experience. Thankfully, her father had forged in her the disciplines of track marking and checking positioning regularly when they used to hike together.

 “Form disciplines that keep you on track”

When Ashley got off track on her hike, she had the self-disciplines that enabled her to be able to get back on track again. It’s okay to get off track, to make mistakes, to fail, if we are learning and developing self-disciplines that help us avoid these off-track moments as we progress forward.

In 8 Powerful Ways to Cultivate Extreme Self-Discipline, Brent Gleeson writes:

STEP ONE: Know your strengths and weaknesses

Self-awareness is a powerful tool for comfort zone expansion, but it requires constant focus and acknowledging your shortcomings, whatever they may be.

STEP TWO: Remove temptations

Like the saying goes, “out of sight, out of mind.” It may seem silly, but this phrase offers powerful advice. By simply removing the biggest temptations from your environment, you will greatly improve your self-discipline.

STEP THREE: Set clear goals and have an execution plan

A clear plan outlines each time-bound step you must take to reach your goals. Create a mantra to keep yourself focused.

STEP FOUR: Practice daily diligence

We aren’t born with self-discipline; it’s a learned behaviour. And just like any other skill you want to master; it requires daily practice and repetition. It must become habitual.

STEP FIVE: Create new habits and rituals

Acquiring self-discipline and working to instil a new habit can feel daunting at first, especially if you focus on the entire task at hand. To avoid feeling intimidated, keep it simple. Break your goal into small, doable steps.

STEP SIX: Change your perception about willpower

If you believe you have a limited amount of willpower, you probably won’t surpass those limits.

STEP SEVEN: Give yourself a backup plan

The development of expertise requires coaches who are capable of giving constructive, even painful, feedback.

STEP EIGHT: Forgive yourself and move forward

Even with all our best intentions and well laid plans, we sometimes fall short. It happens. You will have ups and downs, great successes, and dismal failures. The key is to keep going.

The full blog https://www.forbes.com/sites/brentgleeson/2020/08/25/8-powerful-ways-to-cultivate-extreme-self-discipline/?sh=767805e3182d

 It’s easy for anyone of us to get off track, this could be in the pursuit of goals, aspirations, or relationships. If we were honest, we would back ourselves to get through without thought of needing to form self-disciplines but forming self-disciplines and accountabilities are essential for us in been intentional and successful in life.

 My 5 Learnings:

·       Staying on track, means I need to know where I’m heading

·       Self-disciplines will help me to stay on track

·       I can be clear about my goals and how I can be accountable to them

·       Sometimes there is more than one way to get where I’m going but it’s more effective to stay on track

·       Getting off track is inevitable, so don’t be hard on myself

Think about goals, aspirations, plans and relationships that keep getting off track. What are things that need to change? For a goal, you could share it with a trusted relationship and get them to hold you accountable to your goal by meeting regularly. In relationships it could be something as simple as a daily message affirming your appreciation and gratitude.

My 3 Questions for you:

·       What daily disciplines do you practice every day?

·       Are you doing things that cause you to regularly go off track?

·       What is one discipline you could start today that will help you move forward?

 “The first and best victory is to conquer self.” ~ PLATO

If you need help in becoming more self-disciplined, or if there is something you have questions about, please talk to me. I would be happy to help and chat with you.

Remember daily to, “Find value in your influence”