Engaging in genuine discipline
requires that you develop the ability
to take action. You don't need to be
hasty if it isn't required, but
you don't want to lose much time
either. Here's the time to act:
when the idea is hot and the emotion
is strong.
Let's say you would like to build
your library. If that is a strong
desire for you, what you've got to do
is get the first book. Then get
the second book. Take action as soon
as possible, before the
feeling passes and before the idea
dims. If you don't, here's what
happens –
- You Fall Prey to the Law of
Diminishing Intent -
We intend to take action when the
idea strikes us. We intend to do
something when the emotion is high.
But if we don't translate that
intention into action fairly soon,
the urgency starts to diminish. A
month from now the passion is cold. A
year from now it can't be
found.
So take action. Set up a discipline
when the emotions are high and
the idea is strong, clear, and
powerful. If somebody talks about
good health and you're motivated by
it, you need to get a book on
nutrition. Get the book before the
idea passes, before the emotion
gets cold. Begin the process. Fall on
the floor and do some pushups.
You've got to take action; otherwise
the wisdom is wasted.
The emotion soon passes unless you
apply it to a disciplined
activity. Discipline enables you to
capture the emotion and the
wisdom and translate them into
action. The key is to increase your
motivation by quickly setting up the
disciplines. By doing so,
you've started a whole new life
process.
Here is the greatest value of
discipline: self-worth, also known as
self-esteem. Many people who are
teaching self-esteem these days
don't connect it to discipline. But
once we sense the least lack of
discipline within ourselves, it
starts to erode our psyche. One of the
greatest temptations is to just ease
up a little bit. Instead of doing
your best, you allow yourself to do
just a little less than your best.
Sure enough, you've started in the
slightest way to decrease your
sense of self-worth.
There is a problem with even a little
bit of neglect. Neglect starts
as an infection. If you don't take
care of it, it becomes a disease.
And one neglect leads to another.
Worst of all, when neglect starts,
it diminishes our self-worth.
Once this has happened, how can you
regain your self-respect? All
you have to do is act now! Start with
the smallest discipline that
corresponds to your own philosophy.
Make the commitment: "I will
discipline myself to achieve my goals
so that in the years ahead I
can celebrate my successes."
To Your Success,
Jim Rohn
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