Discipline

So here it is, the much anticipated (by me) post on discipline. If I had a genie who could grant me a wish, I'd wish for discipline. And therein lies the problem, I'd like to instantly have discipline and not have to work for it. I often think about how much easier my life would be if I were only disciplined, and consider all I could accomplish if only I were characterized by this trait. As if I have no choice in the matter! As if being undisciplined just happened to me one day when I wasn't paying attention. Well the more I have been thinking about it, the more I am convinced that I don't have to dislike myself for not being as disciplined as I'd like. I can simply work on it; a brilliant concept if I do say so myself! And that's the plan, that I will work hard for discipline, because it is truly a virtue. The Proverbs 31 woman is disciplined, why shouldn't I be?

Now I will list the reasons, mainly for myself as to why it is worth fighting for discipline so I can come back to them when I am tempted to not be disciplined:
- Discipline My Time

• Spend more time with God. The most important thing I can do with my life, and yet the thing I probably neglect the most as sad as that is. I want my time with God each day not even to be an option. I want to have fewer days that I look back on in regret because I watched the Office, but didn't crack open my bible or pray.

• Spend more time on my music. I pretty much work on my music on a daily basis, but there is always more I can do: listen to more music, look at scores and of course, compose.
  

• Read more. I love to read, and there are so many books I want to read, but I just often don't carve out the time to do it as much as I'd like.-

-Discipline My Spending! I feel like I am sitting on the sidelines helplessly as I watch my bank account drain, and though there are many justifiable expenses that are causing the drainage, I could probably slow the inevitable down if I didn't feel I need a Starbucks coffee everyday. ( there is one sitting next to the computer now, but at least I used some loose change to pay for it!)

-Discipline the Way I Eat! I can't tell you how many days I have had 5 mini candy bars for lunch. Seriously, my roommate has a HUGE bag of candy and sometimes I don't want to take three minutes to make a sandwhich so I eat what's already prepared and sitting in front of me. Yikes, talk about the freshman 15 except I'm not a freshman, but that doesn't make an extra 15 pounds any prettier. Anyway it's not just about me not wanting to gain weight, but being healthy and treating my God-given body well.

-Discipline My Thoughts! Oh it's so easy to allow my thoughts to wander when I'm anxious, doubting or what-have-you. This also goes along with praying more.


So, this is a huge undertaking. I mean, I have a lot to get disciplined on! And I know that I will not perfect these things, as I am nowhere near being close to perfect, but even writing down my goals for myself and you to see is a step in the right direction, I think. It's time for me to put my 'good intentions' into action! I will perhaps blog about my future successes and tribulations so you can keep me accountable...


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