Have you ever had an experience where you put off doing something that you thought you “should” do, only to find out that if you’d done it when you were supposed to you would have wasted a lot of time?

Most people have.  It’s the number one argument people use against self-discipline.  Obviously, I want to talk about this today.

I’ve witnessed this debate many times in my career development seminars.  I can always see the resistance in the non-disciplined person’s eyes just before their hand shoots up to point out their previous experience.  I usually start with this definition from Elbert Hubbard regarding self-discipline:

“ . . . the ability to make yourself do what you should do, when you should do it, whether you feel like it or not.”

A lot of our current day high achievers would agree with this statement.

“Why then,” comes the question, “have I often put things off and had it turn out for the best?”

Let’s discuss it.

While it is true that your inner guidance will assist you by subtly influencing you to “procrastinate” on a project or particular item that is unnecessary, or on something that the timing is not quite right, more often than not, your hesitance in applying your self-discipline is actually self-sabotage.  Deep down, you feel that you are not worthy of having more than you currently have.

You know, and your inner being knows, that a healthy diet, exercise, handling an issue, working, putting in a certain number of hours on an important project, or some other specific course of action would truly benefit you.  When you procrastinate on these items, it’s a signal that you need to learn to honor yourself more.

Yes, this is usually when the room (in my seminars) gets quiet also.

When I get an “urge” to put something off, it’s usually a feeling of, “Well, I could work on this now, but something’s telling me not to.  I don’t know what it is – can’t quite put my finger on it, so I’m going to hold off for now.”  Then, sure enough, a few hours later I find out that the project has been canned or altered in some way.  That’s my inner guidance.

Contrast that experience with, “Okay, it’s time to go walking.  But it’s so hot, and I’m so tired, and I worked so hard today.  I don’t want to over-stimulate myself before going to bed,” etc. – on with the excuses, some of which are not even true.  See the difference?

Yes, I am familiar with the theory that if your resting heart rate is a certain percentage above your normal it is counter-productive to work out that day.  I could use that as an excuse.  Here’s the problem:  I am not a professional athlete.  (And never will be!)

Yes, it has been very hot here in Kentucky this summer.  On some nights, it really has been too hot to walk.  But most of the time, that would just be an excuse.

So how do we discern the difference?  How do you know when it’s just an excuse and when it’s legit?

I think you know.  I believe we always “know.”  The trick is to be able to identify when you are not honoring yourself soon enough to take action in the present moment.  The more you can do this, the less it will happen in your future.

The best way to break this habit, is to deliberately schedule time to be good to yourself.  Schedule a massage, or to play a round of golf.  Treat it as an appointment you have with someone else and keep your commitment.

Then, the next time you start to excuse yourself out of going to the gym, you’ll recognize exactly what it is you’re doing – dishonoring yourself.  Once you recognize it, you’ll think, “Ah, this is what Debra was talking about.  Okay, I am going to honor myself by going to the gym, I am going to keep my commitment.  Even though, in this very moment, I really don’t feel like it, I know I’ll appreciate having followed-through later.”

Eventually, you will have formed the habit of going to the gym just like you go to work, and your self-discipline will carry over into other areas as well.  Taking these actions will significantly increase your self esteem.

The greatest advantage I have found to learning to listen to my inner guidance and exercise my self-discipline is that I have a lot more time on my hands on the weekends to do as I please.  It has been absolutely amazing.  My feelings and moods drive my days to a large degree now because I’ve learned to honor myself through self-discipline.  I do what is most important at the right time, and it’s paying off.  I plan my week in advance, and if something is on my schedule, I do it, unless I have “that feeling.”  I get a lot more accomplished now than even a year ago and I feel like I’m working less.  What a great feeling!

You can accomplish this feeling, too.  All you have to do is be willing to stop, ask, and listen:  is this my inner guidance, or do I need to honor myself through self-discipline?  The answer will “come” to you.

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