Things You'll Need:
- A planner or related software
- An assessment of your talents and skills
- A strong support network
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Step 1
Define your purpose. Just what is it you really want from life? Many people have ideas, but ideas are not concrete. Many people take life as it comes, with no real idea of what they would like to create from it. They don't know their purpose. They downplay their talents. Fear, doubt and worry force them into living in a narrow channel. Through the years they find contentment in mediocrity. The first step to developing self-discipline requires that you find your unique purpose.
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Step 2
Next to knowing who you are and why you exist comes setting goals. You need to take time to write down what's really important to you and focus your energy on achieving those most important to you. No one has the same goal. And no one can base those goals on what they see or hear on television or in magazines. Though you might want to become a fashion model or movie star, you might not have the temperament or character to make it in the field. Your goals must be tailor made to fit your skills and abilities. Knowing what your goals are is a major key to learning self-discipline.
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Step 3
Create a plan of action once you know what you want. Many people take great pains to plan a wedding or a vacation, but neglect to do anything that could secure a strong future for themselves. Planning means putting down every step needed to achieve the ultimate goal. Those steps should be broken down into monthly, weekly and daily mini-goals. To keep yourself motivated you should accomplish something every day that moves you closer to that goal. Creating your plan means forcing yourself to sit down, think hard and map out those many steps toward the goal. That is what develops self-discipline.
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Step 4
Stir up the emotions. People who reach their dreams are enthusiastic. They have desire. Emotion plays a great part toward achievement. If you see goals as just drudgery, you'll lose interest. You must constantly be filled with the desire to achieve and believe that you will reach your dreams.
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Step 5
Be positive. Nothing kills desire more than doubt and fear. They freeze creativity. If all you see are the negatives, you won't find the motivation to overcome the smallest obstacles in your path. Many people are afraid to take risks for fear of failure. They fear the future. But mistakes are a part of life. They instruct and teach you what doesn't work so you can move closer to what does. Life requires taking risks. The more risks you take, the more you learn and the more positive you become.
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Step 6
Be a constant learner. All successful men and women are always learning something new. They attend seminars, read books, papers and reports to bone up on the latest advances in their field. They don't stagnate once they have a diploma. College and university provide you with an education, but life teaches experience. If you don't have time to read and study, make time. Cut out Monday night football and those other time wasters you've become accustomed to.
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Step 7
Be persistent. No one ever made it by giving up. No one ever created an ideal lifestyle for themselves without the determination that carried them through the most difficult periods of life. It is always tempting to give up, but the only way to success is by developing the self-discipline that comes with persistence.
