“Discipline is doing what needs to be done, even if you don’t want to do it.
” – Unknown
What I have learnt on the path of self improvement about being disciplined is that—
‘Discipline is not about depriving yourself of pleasure or punishing yourself for mistakes.
Instead, it’s about taking ownership of your actions and making deliberate choices that align
with your goals and values. It’s about cultivating a mindset of excellence and constantly
striving to improve, even when it’s difficult or uncomfortable.’ (Scroll down to the summary
in the conclusion to get a quick digest.)
Being Undisciplined
During February 2022, I was driven by a deep desire to assist my parents financially. I saw
that sportspersons, athletes, etc. Were retiring in their late 30s and enjoying their lives and
my parents are sacrificing each and every day of theirs, killing their desire just for the sake to
make the future of me and my brother settled, happy, and secured. “What kind of selfish son
am I, a son lost in his own desires of greed and satisfaction!” echoed in me.
I embarked on a quest to find ways to earn money. YouTube became my guide, offering a
multitude of options. However, being underage and lacking specific skills, I soon realised
these ventures were not suitable for me. And all these demotivated me.
I knew that the roots of my demotivation and sorrow were not only that I was unable to find
‘quick earning methods’ but were that my determination and desire to remove my parents’
misery faltered as being addicted to distractions like television, scrolling YouTube shorts, and
some that I am ashamed to mention.
Undeterred by initial setbacks, I made the decision to learn Python. It seemed like a
promising skill to acquire, but I struggled with consistency and focus. My indiscipline
hindered my progress. Frustration loomed over me, and I desperately sought a way to regain
focus.
The Beginning of Discipline
My father prays everyday after bathing and asked me to do so and so I used to do but the
prayer was not effective to give mental peace as it didn’t come from my heart.
My mother suggested chanting ‘Om’ as a means to control my thoughts and find inner
peace. Willing to try anything, I embraced this ancient practice. Surprisingly, the repetitive
chanting brought a sense of calmness and allowed me to gain a little control over my
thoughts.
By the time my half-yearly exams approached, I succumbed to the pressure and gave up on
learning Python. Later after the exams I didn’t pick up the string from where I left believing it
would take about 3-4 years to monetize my coding skills, which was not desired by me.
However, instead of wallowing in self-doubt, I decided to shift my focus towards self-
improvement.
Drastic Changes
I started to make a routine for the upcoming day not by means of writing but in my mind
only to enhance my cognitive skills and be able to regulate my mind, though I forgot many
things in the beginning. This allowed me to prioritise tasks and manage time efficiently.
With newfound determination, I embraced the mantra of “early to bed and early to rise.”
Waking up at 6 am, I started my mornings with positive affirmations, “You will not repeat the
same mistakes today!”, “You have to be a person who is not easily blown away by such
distractions and desire to engage in self-harming habits.” I started doing meditation, centred
around the sacred chant of ‘Om.’ I chanted it until my thoughts were not suppressed to an
extent, which took in the beginning around 10-15 minutes. This daily practice instilled a
sense of purpose and clarity within me.
Recognizing the importance of physical well-being, I joined my father for regular jogging and
did simple but healthier exercises like push-ups, cycling, etc. This not only strengthened our
bond but also invigorated my body and mind, paving the way for a more productive day.
Motivated by my newfound discipline, I started setting achievable goals mostly regarding my
academics and useful surfing on the internet to find ways to earn. Being stuck to goals
shifted my diversion from bad habits and I slowly quitted them. I also limited my screen to
reduce stress as over screen time hinders my thinking process. These changes empowered
me.
All this made me more magnetic to my desire to serve my parents. After reaching half the
pinnacle of mastering self-discipline, I increased my engagement on surfing the Internet and
then came up with the idea to start a blog. Though I wasted a month on a blog which didn’t
align with my passion. So I did research about different niches.
Driven by a growing passion for self-improvement, I delved deeper into my journey through
extensive research on YouTube.
Throughout this gradual process, by the end it brought me to my annual examinations in
March 2023 which brought a halt in my journey of starting a blog, and every day seemed to
increase my motivation to succeed.
It was during the exploration after the exams that I stumbled upon the idea of starting a
blog, starting the one in which I would cater the knowledge and experiences gained along
the way.
Gathering all the 20 tips to be disciplined in a one minute read:-
1. Spend time with your family
2. Kill Procrastination
3. Kill Comfort Zone
4. Make a new routine every night for the upcoming day
5. Master self-control
6. Meditate and/or pray
7. Practice time management
8. Exercise
9. Limit Screen Time
10. Embrace discomfort
11. Set Goals
12. Have values, morals, and principles
13. Reflect on your thoughts
14. Practice gratitude
15. Control negative thoughts
16. Understand your responsibilities
17. Follow the rule of early to bed and early to rise
18. Make positive self-affirmations after waking up early
19. Analyse the loopholes in you throughout the day before sleeping
20. Identify and avoid distractions
Good luck, thank you!
Bio
My name is Gaurav Kumar Giri, a student and a blogger on self-improvement niche. My
vision is to cater my experiences to all via my blog ‘Developo Raise’
https://developoraise.blogspot.com and I think that it’s not about psychology but the
experience one uses to guide others who are going through the same phase.
