Discipline is Destiny: The Power of Self Control

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Introduction

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!

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 - like the ability to travel or order food - don't actually make us happier. Instead, they leave us spiraling in meaningless directions. Feeling more and more unhappy over time. Maybe you admire people who can get whatever they want. Maybe you are even envious of such people and think that their choices bring them happiness. But the reality is not what it seems. Compare the situation to yourself. How much happiness or contentment do you feel in the long term when you jump from one desire to another? Does it ever bring anything more than a moment of joy? So, what do you think we can do to deal with this whole thing? Balance it out, of course! The idea goes a bit deeper. Think of it like you have 2 "yous" inside. There's the higher you that wants good things like being nice and helpful. Then there's the lower you that just wants to do easy stuff like watch TV all day. One is attracted to excess and extravagant desires and the other looking for balance and harmony. We are in a constant state of flux as both the selves keep calling us out. Y'all, this is where self-discipline comes in. Self-discipline keeps the lower self in check and bolsters the higher self. Yes, it requires consistent effort, facing hard challenges, setting some limits, and not paying attention to stuff that might screw things up. And you'll have to work on forming good habits, but it's totally worth it! Basically, it's about letting solid ideals steer your life, keeping things reasonable, and showing some real determination. Again, self-control is never about depriving yourself. The idea is to use self-control to guide your behavior rather than acting on every passing impulse. It opens up opportunities. Seneca, a stoic philosopher once said "Most powerful is he who has himself in his own power." How apt! Now, onto the first inspirational story of the day:...

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 balanced person uses this moment to gather themselves and respond appropriately. Remember, if a situation is bad, a bad response is only going to make it worse. So, it's a 'keep calm and carry on' sort of thing. Do you know who's a good example of this? Queen Elizabeth. She reacted like the royalty she was, no matter the situation. Crazy things could happen around the Queen and she'd just brush it off like it was no big deal. And that's how she was able to withstand many political and personal turmoils - her balanced persona and persistence to fulfill her duty at all costs. Back in 1966, a huge cement block toppled onto the royal ride she was in. Her reaction? “It’s a strong car.” Then in 1981, when a gunman suddenly fired six shots right at her, the girl didn't even blink! Now, a noteworthy aspect of having a disciplined mind is improved focus. Take a look at the lives of geniuses. Their focus was borderline self-indulgent, even rude. They could straight up zone out, regardless of what was going on around them. Beethoven's life is a testament to this. When in a 'flow state' or raptus, he'd get so deep in the musical zone that everything else faded away. Beethoven didn't let any distractions break his concentration once he was feeling inspired. You gotta respect that level of tuned-in focus. More so because it takes a high level of self-control to keep focus when the world offers multiple distractions. So sometimes, it is best to ignore some things and focus only on what's important. Disciplining your brain also helps you keep things in perspective. Life's little letdowns and mistakes won't seem like a huge deal anymore. Failures won't feel so crushing, and imperfections won't seem ugly. Nothing or no one can be perfect, and striving for faultlessness is unrealistic and exhausting. Just do your best and when you fall...

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 up with self-loathing. Now, what exactly does this disciplined routine consist of? Three things: a disciplined routine is consistent, it is challenging, and it starts with the sun! Consistency is showing up. It's not like there is a dearth of talented or gifted people, right? It is persistence that sets people apart. So, make it a point to show up for your priorities, without fail. Build up the determination to walk on the path you envisioned for yourself. Whether it is a 10-minute meditation session in the morning or a brisk walk in the evening, love yourself enough to make the correct choice every single day.Number #2, is challenging! The idea behind challenging yourself is to indulge in an activity that takes you out of your comfort zone. Why? Because the comfort zone's tricky! You can chill there, sure. But there's no opportunity to grow. You'll become a dull little thing. Kinda harsh, but that's how it works. All good, all the time and you'll start losing brain cells, no kidding. So, do something different. Go for a swim. Try cold showers. Enroll in a Zumba class. It is crucial to challenge yourself and increase your stamina and mental endurance.Next, the writer suggests an 'early to bed early to rise' routine for optimal health. The first benefit is that you receive an optimal amount of sleep. Most of us fail to understand the impact of a well-rested mind and body. Adequate sleep allows you to start your day with more enthusiasm and energy. Secondly, the few minutes you spend just after you wake up might set the tone for the day. So, try to start the day on a peaceful and optimistic note. It is important to understand that life is hard. Most of us are victims of situations we have no control over. Self-discipline empowers your mind and body to face adversity with temperance. The idea is not just to build physical...

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. Pretty hardcore, huh? But Cato didn't judge his brother who liked perfumes and luxuries. He knew you gotta cut people some slack. Marcus Aurelius set super high standards for himself as Emperor. But did he demand the same from others? No way! He shared power with his very different adopted brother and was chilled out about people's lifestyle choices. His aim was self-perfection, not making everyone follow his uptight rules.

Are you seeing the pattern here? Self-discipline alone is not enough. It must be complemented by compassion - both self-compassion and compassion for others. The Stoics knew this well. As philosopher Cleanthes once said, one should not be overly harsh on oneself for failures. Talk to yourself like you would a good friend in need of encouragement, not a drill sergeant dishing out punishment! On the other hand, compassion for others means not expecting the world to be as disciplined as you.

Discipline gives us strong foundations, helping us with self-actualization. But compassion stops us from teetering over the edge into rigidity or harshness. It reins us in when we expect too much from others - or ourselves. Does this mean we should lower our standards? Of course not. A temperate person sets high expectations for themselves, yet gives others space to walk their own path. They forgive transgressions in others that they would never tolerate in themselves. Self-discipline, but without losing our humanity along the way. To hit the peak, everything's gotta click - mind, body, and spirit! Can this be challenging? You bet. Striking that balance takes wisdom - the wisdom to know we all mess up and we all need encouragement at times. The wisdom to know forcing discipline often fails, leading by gentle example does better. This nuanced self-mastery is true temperance.

Discipline plus compassion, self-control plus humanity!

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.

Key concepts in Discipline is Destiny: The Power of Self Control

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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.