When you master yourself, you can succeed at anything.

The key to mastering your thoughts and actions is developing self-discipline.

Did you know the most successful people have gotten to where they are today because they have learned to practice self-discipline?

If you, too, would like to regain control of your thoughts and actions, improvement begins by understanding the definition of self-discipline, knowing the skills you need to develop it, and following examples that will inspire you to greatness.

What Is Self-Discipline?
Let’s start with the basics.

The word self-discipline is actually made up of two parts. The noun “discipline” means “training that corrects, molds, or perfects the mental faculties or moral character” (Merriam-Webster Dictionary).

The ‘self’ in self-discipline means you have the willpower to do these things on your own, without someone telling you to do them.

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So self-discipline means you control your feelings and even do hard things so you can be better and have more prosperity.

More than one self-discipline definition can help us understand the concept better, though. Consider these dictionary definitions:

Self-discipline is “the ability to control one’s feelings and overcome one’s weaknesses; the ability to pursue what one thinks is right despite temptations to abandon it. ”Oxford Languages Dictionary
“Self-discipline is the ability to control yourself and to make yourself work hard or behave in a particular way without needing anyone else to tell you what to do.” Collins Dictionary
Self-discipline is the “correction or regulation of oneself for the sake of improvement.” Merriam-Webster Dictionary.

Self-discipline puts you on the fast track to accomplishing your goals because you are more focused on what is important and less distracted by things that get in the way.

It helps reduce stress and anxiety, which often come from procrastination, wasting time, or not having a plan to follow.

Self-control makes you feel more confident in your abilities to accomplish things, which leads to living a better lifestyle and becoming your best self.

How do you know if you lack self-discipline? There are some signs to look for. One sign is that you find yourself making excuses for falling short on things.

For example, promptness requires self-discipline. If you are often late to appointments, work, or other commitments but blame it on traffic, hitting the alarm too many times, or staying up late to finish a project, you likely lack self-discipline. Instead, you should take responsibility for leaving earlier, getting up on time, or not procrastinating the start of your project.

Another sign you need more self-discipline is you give in to temptation and just can’t seem to reach your goals. That could be eating too much so you cannot make your ideal weight or not advancing in your career because you give in to the temptation of spending some of your free time on social media instead of taking an online course.

One more sign that you need to improve your self-discipline is that you wait to feel motivated before doing something. For example, if you want to write a book and are waiting until the right moment when you feel energized to do it, you will probably never accomplish it.

several modes of communication.

The positive reinforcement and encouragement you receive from your accountability partner — and in turn, give to them — can make all the difference in overcoming the roadblocks you have been experiencing and catapulting you toward making your hopes and dreams a reality.

more self-disciplined and cultivate mental toughness.

To help you stay on top of your action plan, consider remembering or writing down one of my favorite quotes that relates to self-discipline:

“Mental toughness is many things and rather difficult to explain. Its qualities are sacrifice and self-denial. Also, most importantly, it is combined with a perfectly disciplined will that refuses to give in.” (Vince Lombardi)

Set Yourself Up For Success
Begin your path toward personal improvement by becoming more self-disciplined today.

The power of self-control will propel you toward a better life.

Setting goals is an important part of becoming more disciplined. If you don’t know where to start, my 14-Step Goal Setting Guide includes more tips on how to set clear goals. The actionable advice in this resource will teach you how to achieve your goals faster than you ever thought possible.