One of my favourite quotes is ‘how you do one thing is how you do everything’ – the idea that the way you show up in your relationships is also the way you act when it comes to work, wealth, self-development, health, fitness and fun.

A feeling which has only really come to me in the last few years is that I want to approach my life with discipline. To know that I’ve stuck at things even when they’ve been heard. To feel accomplished at the end of the day. Knowing that I’ve done my best.

I have a little discipline ‘voice’ in my head now, which never used to be there. It speaks out when I’m getting out of my car and I have loads of things to carry into the house, stopping me from just leaving it there until the next time I use the car. It pipes up at the end of the evening, just before bed, reminding me that it feels so much better when I make my son’s lunch the night before, and pop the hoover round so I can wake up to a house that feels nice and clean. The voice is there when I’ve got a couple of things left on my daily to-do list, and I’m tempted to just rewrite them on tomorrow’s list.

Discipline has become synonymous with identity for me now. I’m showing up as the person I want to be. The person I want others to see me as. The person who reaps the benefits of acting this way. It’s an art to be mastered, not a switch you can flick. I don’t even know how or when I started to become more disciplined, but I’m glad I did. I guess that consistent self-development has played a part. Also, being in situations which I’ve wanted to change. Seeing how being disciplined has positively affected my life and my achievements makes me even more disciplined! It’s a momentum thing – a snowball effect. It feels good, and I’d highly recommend you give it a try!

Start small – perhaps setting a wake up time and sticking to it, or committing to a short meditation every day. It’s not just about habits though. It’s about your mindset. Showing up when you said you would. Giving your effort fully where it matters. Saying ‘no’ to the things that you know you won’t want to do when the time comes around!

Change your habits, your mindset and your identity and watch how quickly your whole life changes.

 
PS – If you want some more guidance and to ponder on the big questions in life, why not check out the Philosopher-in-Residence series. Out every fortnight on a Thursday, and written by our Principal Planner, Anna Pascoe.  You can take a peek at the latest edition here: ON LOBBYING - Make Me A Plan