Discipline, by Dr. Ogi Ressel

Saturday, April 11th 2009

Warm hellos to everyone of you!

Ok, Ok....I do get into these snits where I deviate from the concrete
application of Chiropractic and get into the more ethereal aspects of
what we do. 

This is one of them.

So...let's talk about creating some reality and structure which will enable
you to achieve your goals and fulfillment. ...and it should be a creative
and fun project. It should ultimately support you in living your best life.

It must also be sprinkled with a good dose of self-discipline.

Here are some key questions to ask yourself:
1.  What is my vision/mission?
2.  What goals will support me in moving towards my vision?
3.  By when do I want to achieve these goals?
4.  What is involved in fulfilling these goals?
5.  What are the lampposts along the way to reaching these goals?
6.  What skills do I have now, that will support me in reaching these goals?
7.  What skills will I need to develop in order to reach my goals?
8.  What assistance will I need?
9.  Who can I mentor with in order to reach my goals?
10. What must I learn?
11. Who will keep me accountable to stay on track?
12. What are the consequences of not following my plan?
13. What are the rewards of following my plan and reaching my goals and vision?
Some direct questions...

I suggest you take some time aside from your frantic days and in the quiet
of your own heart, ask yourself the above questions.

Plan for your success. Debbie Ford, in her book: "The Best Year of Your Life,"
 feels that having only a plan is not enough though. You also need discipline.
I agree.

Discipline brings orderliness to our lives. In its highest form, discipline has the
ability to bring us complete self-mastery. It is one of the greatest gift we can
give ourselves for it supports ourselves in staying true to our purpose and our plan.  

For some of us, the fear of discipline is one of the biggest roadblocks we face.
Some of us fear being constrained, confined and controlled by our own self-imposed
discipline. What we don't realize is that our fear of discipline often causes us to
lose sight of our dreams - that it is the very thing we fear which has the ability to
actually deliver the results and vision we desire!

Without discipline, we are distracted, off purpose, we put off tasks before us,
we are bitchy, cranky, irritable, lifeless, tired and bored. Our dreams and on the
back burner and our plans are on hold - procrastination.

Procrastination is an energy-sucking, debilitating syndrome that robs us of our dreams,
our passion, and our self-respect - I wrote about the procrastination disease in a
previous THOT a few months ago.

Discipline is your ticket out.
It can't be argued with.
I can't be persuaded.
It can't be manipulated.
It does not care if you don't feel like doing it.
It does not give you an option.
It does not care what you think.
It is not interested in any of your excuses.
It can listen to your whining and wingding and crying for hours - it still doesn't care.
It doesn't care how hard you think the task is - or how easy.

The Voice of Discipline says: "This is the plan of action. I said I will do it, and I will."
Period.

It also says: "To reach our goals we must at times run with the wind, at times against it,
but we must never stand still."
Action.

It is like stepping on the gas of your Ferrari!
We experience the thrill of accomplishment - ours!

Writer W.M Lewis once said, "The tragedy of life is not that it ends so soon,
but that we wait so long to begin it."

Having a vision and a goal and not having the discipline to take action in order to
achieve this goal is a waste of life. Instead of bringing us excitement, passion,
joy, and self-satisfaction, it fuels our resignation and dissatisfaction.
Discipline.

This is where your Tomorrow begins.

Warmest wishes,
Dr. Ogi Ressel