Would you believe us if we told you that discipline ultimately brings freedom into your life? Roll your eyes all you want, but it's true. There is a whole school of philosophy that supports just this. Ever heard of the philosophy of stoicism? While we usually think of discipline as something that sucks the fun out of everything, the Stoics were all about keeping it real and learning self-control. Not so you could follow society's rules - but so you could call the shots and be your own master. Goals!
Now, prepare to be amazed as Ryan Holiday sheds light on temperance or self-discipline, which, btw, is one of the four essential Stoic virtues, and shows how it can bring greatness and everlasting joy to your life. His Discipline is Destiny: The Power of Self-Control (2022) provides actionable insights to hone self-discipline. With some real-life inspiring stories from famous historical figures like Lou Hehrig, Queen Elizabeth, Floyd Patterson, and Toni Morrison, the book shows that even the best of the best-needed self-discipline to achieve greatness.
Calm your curiosity and head over to the first section where we see how liberating discipline can be!
Summary
Self-discipline is a prime virtue as per stoic philosophy. Regular practice of self-control gives control back to you. The stoic philosophy believes in hard work, leading a virtuous life, thinking hard, building physical and mental fortitude, and avoidance of excesses. Doing so will make your life more fruitful and bring everlasting joy to your life. Sometimes, even if you fail, you will be alright with starting over. Self-discipline gives your freedom back to you and empowers you to make the right choices! The idea is to go on and evolve and never quit, no matter the adversity.
Self-Discipline Gives You Ultimate Freedom!
Are you happy? If you answered "yes" confidently, congratulations! You are among the very few. But if you hesitated for even a second before responding, ask yourself - why? Aren't you free to do what you want, whenever you want? So, what's the cause of our dissatisfaction? Here's a simple explanation. We have confused satisfaction with having easy access to things. But without self-restraint, this access leads to dysfunctionality. All these so-called liberating things that are just one touch away -...
Discipline Your Mind!
Practicing self-control is about giving power to your mind. When we practice self-control, we are training our minds to be in charge rather than letting our impulses control us. This may not be easy, but it's not impossible either. You just have to find a balance between your feelings, your thoughts, and your responses. Did you know that after you notice a stimulus, there is a small pause before you react? In that tiny moment, you have a choice. A...
Prioritize Your Daily Physical Routine!
You already know that Stoics were into using self-discipline to keep their bodies and minds in good shape. They figured the best way to implement self-discipline is by following a routine. A consistent routine of regular exercise - yoga, running, or playing a sport allows you to steer clear of laziness or procrastination. When you force yourself to stick to something, you take control of your body and mind. That strengthens your physical and mental endurance. Plus, you won't end...
True Temperance Balances Self-Discipline With Compassion
By now, you get that self-discipline is a huge deal. Working hard, resisting temptation, being focused and committed - that's how we achieve success. But is crossing every T and dotting every I the whole story? Nope. There's actually a missing ingredient: compassion! Let's look at some prime examples of self-control from history. Cato the Younger was as rigid as his great-grandfather when it came to virtue. He walked barefoot in Rome, slept on the ground with troops, and never lied....
More knowledge in less time
The Art of Community
Get the key ideas from nonfiction bestsellers in minutes, not hours.
Find your next read
Get book lists curated by experts and personalized recommendations.
Shortcasts
We’ve teamed up with podcast creators to bring you key insights from podcasts.
About the Author
Author, media strategist, and bookstore owner Ryan Holiday hails from the United States. He is also the host of the podcast called Daily Stoic. The Obstacle is the Way, Ego is the Enemy, and Stillness is the Key are some of his other books.
Similar titles like Discipline is Destiny: The Power of Self Control
Thank you for registering with Storise.
Your journey with books and ideas begins now, anytime, anywhere.
You can now use your registered email to log in to the app.
.png){kind=icon}
