Self Discipline – Pay Attention – To DO your dream!

I recently took a stroll down memory lane in a photo album I had from the past.  It’s funny how you can observe one’s past history in photos and project how things might turn out for that persons future.

As I looked at the photos I saw a very passionate young woman.  One who loved the sport of karate, teaching exercise and being competitive. I  had to laugh at the fact that 30 some years had gone by since some of these photos had been taken.  Interesting that just hair style, a wrinkle or two and a few pounds up and down changed things but not the person on the inside.  I truly was amazed that I have been training people for 30 years now!  Some of my clients now are not even that old!  Wow!

I have always liked hanging out with people who are smarter than me and are winners.  When I look back at the likes of Randell “Tex” Cobb, Joe Corley and Bill “Super Foot Wallace” being a part of my “I wanna be like them circle of hero’s”,  it’s no wonder I have been great at the sports and things I have chosen to dedicate my life and time to.  For those of you who don’t know who these greats are that’s ok.  For those who do…congratulations on your interest  in one of my sport of sports!

Looking “back” and looking at the “now” in the photos I realized one thing that I and those I look up to  have in common in  our lives.  DISCIPLINE…SELF DISCIPLINE. 

Wikipedia’s definition is the following:

SELF DISCIPLINE

Self-discipline refers to the training that one gives one’s self to accomplish a certain task or to adopt a particular pattern of behaviour, even though one would really rather be doing something else. For example, denying oneself of an extravagant pleasure in order to accomplish a more demanding charitable deed. Thus, self-discipline is the assertion of willpower over more base desires, and is usually understood to be a synonym of ‘self control‘. Self-discipline is to some extent a substitute for motivation, when one uses reason to determine a best course of action that opposes one’s desires. Virtuous behaviour is when one’s motivations are aligned with one’s reasoned aims: to do what you know is best and to do it genuinely gladly. Continent behaviour, on the other hand, is when one does what one knows is best, but must do it by opposing one’s motivations.^[3] Moving from continent to virtuous behaviour requires training and some self discipline.

Everyday I am thrown the opportunity to make choices.  Paying attention is HUGE when it comes to success and greatness.  Distractions are always knocking at ones door to pull one away from their self discipline and reaching their greatness and goals.  This hero in my life had many distractions that never seem to get to him.  Every week he would go out on the track and do what it took to win.  He was a self disciplined race car driver.  He drove and he drove it hard.  That’s what GREAT does.  You do  when you don’t want to!  Self discipline is self taught and self talk and keeping great around you. That is what Dale Earnhart did. 

When teaching my students about bodybuilding and training for a show  I explain that it is very difficult. Many just look at me and actually throw the towel in before we get to week 2 just because of the dang FOOD!  Can you believe that someone would pass up their dream all because of food?!  It happens all the time!   I have had some who make it up to 2 weeks before the show and have trained for months and wanna quit.  It is truly all about the lack of self discipline at  that point.  Men and women call crying needing support for their “I am in this all alone” and this is “so hard” mentality.  I just encourage them to get back in the game and drive and drive hard!  Crying and complaining is not in my game. It’s a damn waist of time!  I swear my passion is about giving it my all and driving hard…driving hard as hell!    My self discipline stands strong as I put positive, smart and fun people in my path especially when I feel some down moment coming on. It is intentional.  And that is what you have to be. Intentional.  It again is self taught and you must be consistent with it or you will not get to your dream.

Are you looking to “Doing your Dream” that I have been writing about?  You will have to be disciplined to do it.  People will want you to do for them and change your plans.  Do not do it.  Stay focused on you, your life motivators and your dream.  Keep planting self discipline and practicing it.  It is self taught but influenced by the greats around you.  Give it your all… you only have this one life. Pay attention and be self disciplined! 

 I am being intentional!  I am bringing ”the voice of greatness” Joel Bryant to Ballantyne for “A night of enlightenment“  -  Joel is the author of Doing the Dream,17 books and is a former UNCC lecturer, philosopher and a WINNER! Please put Oct. 24th on your calendar NOW!  You do not want to miss this people!  We will be at EarthFare Oct. 24th from 6:00-7:30pm with free wine, light appetizers and music!  Come be enlightened and find out  WHAT’S IN YOUR CART??????!!!!!  http://www.joelbryant1.com/index.html

Doing the Dream – by Joel Bryant

The nineties are gone and the millennium is here.  Are you doing the dream?  Are you keeping the vows you made to yourself?  If not, it’s time.  Of course, anyone who has ever tried to succeed knows that doing so is easier on paper than it is in practice.  Countless delays and confounding details guard the gate of greatness preventing our entry.  Yet despite opposition our potential remains.  It prods us at night and provokes us from a nap, saying, “You can do better than this.”

Unfortunately, however, many of us ignore its voice and renounce our vision.  We spend our lives helping others fulfill theirs instead.  We do for them what we are unwilling to do for ourselves – believe in our own greatness.  Some of us have good reasons for neglecting our dreams.  Marriage can distract and divorce can crush.  Even so, our potential remains.  It acknowledges our reasons but rejects them.  Admiration of others and frustration with ourselves is its way of saying, “You can do better than this.”

That’s why we must challenge ourselves.  Friends can encourage and others can inspire but ultimately we must be willing to pursue our dreams.  Else, we make life seem unfair and ourselves feebler than we are.  Worst of all, we live defeated.

What if our employers and been as timid?  What if homebuilders and childcare providers had been afraid to open their doors?  Where would we live and work?  Who would keep our children?  Instead of exalting our fears we should consider these facts.  Everything, after all, begins with a dream, which fear denies and failure frustrates.  But that’s where faith helps and counsel strengthens.  The key, however, is to do the dream, to not let life pass and death swallow before we do.  So, let this be the year that you do the dream.