Self Discipline

Self discipline is something I struggle with. A lot. You can see it in the condition of my house, the piles of "stuff" floating around, unfinished projects, the way I handle finances, in all honesty, the list is long enough it makes me cringe. I believe that it - or the lack of it - is one of the biggest problems in my marriage. So, I'm on a mission to develop some for myself. I found myself reading The Book of Virtues for Young People - granted, I'm not particularly "young people" anymore, but I find that - sometimes - books on a younger level sometimes get the point across better than adult books. I bought this book for my kids but ended up reading it myself.

"Self-discipline is the virtue we use to manage ourselves and the different parts of our our lives. It involves controlling our tempers ... controlling our wishes ... controlling our appetites ... and even controlling our egos. ... Self-discipline also requires recognizing your limites, not wanting too much too soon, and not reaching so far beyond your abilities that you're asking for trouble.

"In short, self-discipline means saying yes to the right things and no to the wrong things. It means taking charge of yourself. (italics mine)

"... The bottom line is that learning self-discipline is very much a do-it-yourself project. [Other people] can help, but in the end, it takes lots of practice, and no one can do that for you. It takes time and it takes patience. Use the virtue of perseverance to learn self-discipline. You'll find yourself a happier, healthier, better person." pp. 7 and 8

"Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who lacks self-control." Proverbs 25:28

"For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline." 2 Timothy 1:7