This is something that we are passionate about, for ourselves and for those that we see - we want the best life for ourselves and others and that can only come with self discipline.
“In reading the lives of great men, I found that the first victory they won was over themselves… self-discipline with all of them came first” Harry S. Truman.
To be a positive influence in the lives of others we must have a positive vision for our own life and be making a habit of the things that are going to enable us to pursue this vision. A compelling vision of mine is to be the person I'd like my son to grow up to be - a very tall order considering my weaknesses, inadequacies and insecurities. But I know that consistency is the driving force behind positive change and mastery takes time.
One thing I struggle with is that I want it all, and all at once (a lack of patience), and this often leads to overwhelm and procrastination. I also get to a point where I get "good enough" at one thing and move on to the next without training on that thing to the point of mastery.
A big lesson I'm learning is that life is a journey and, this side of heaven, life, others and especially I will never be perfect! Having a clear understanding and constantly reminding myself of the journey helps me have patience and take the time and effort to develop habits and begin to master them. In order to avoid overwhelm I'm focusing on 1 thing at a time and breaking down that one thing into easy steps that I can commit to - planning is key. I'm sharing this with my immediate family so that I have the support and temptations to error are avoided/removed.
Practicing dealing with emotional discomfort - a vital part of mastery, of living your best life and something I'll discuss in the next post.
Dr. Thomas Egan