Hi there

Self-development can be tough at times. It can be a hard road to walk.

For me, self-discipline is the key to keeping going on the journey to ultimate success.

Being self-disciplined about your self-development efforts will really pay off in results.

Self-discipline is like a muscle that needs to be exercised regularly. Just like any other muscle, it gets stronger and more effective with consistent use.

It also withers and dies if you don’t exercise it.

What if you don’t have much self-discipline to start with?

Getting it can often seem too big of a reach.

How do you start building self-discipline when it feels like such a daunting task?

For me the secret lies in small daily goals.

Embrace Small Wins: The Path Forward

Instead of overwhelming yourself with ambitious goals or resolutions which often leads to discouragement, try instead to focus on setting small, realistic goals that you can accomplish, or win, within a day or a week.

For instance, if you want to improve your fitness, start by committing to a 15-minute walk each day.

Or, if you aspire to become a writer, commit to writing one page for five days a week.

Build up the small goal targets appropriately as you progress but keep them as small as practicable to gain the long term self-disciplined benefits.

Consistency: The Unsung Hero

In my experience, the key to cultivating self-discipline is consistency.

Showing up for yourself every single day, especially when you don’t feel like it, is essential.

You may miss a day here and there because life gets in the way sometimes.

Don’t beat yourself up about it. Instead, simply pick yourself up, dust yourself off and keep right on going forward.

The good news is that if you do suffer a setback, it will only be a small setback. They small goals system really is powerful.

“Eighty percent of success is showing up.” Woody Allen

Small wins fuel motivation and lead to big results

As you achieve these small daily goals, you’ll start to experience a sense of real accomplishment.

This boost in motivation will make you more likely to stick with our goals in the long run.

You will have developed a success habit and your success habit will lead to big results over time.

Tips for Setting Small Daily Goals:

• Ensure your goals are specific and measurable – think SMART.
• Set goals that you can realistically accomplish.
• Break down your small goals into even smaller manageable steps.
• Dedicate time in your diary to work on your goals.
• Create systems and processes to help you keep on track.
• Track your progress and celebrate your successes.

Self-Discipline is a journey, not a race

Remember, self-discipline is a journey, not a destination or a race against others.

There will be ups and downs along the way. That’s life.

However, with consistent effort, you’ll eventually reach your goals.

Don’t be afraid or embarrassed to start small.

With a little bit of effort and consistency, you can cultivate your self-discipline and ultimately achieve anything you set your mind to.

Bonus Tips

• Find an accountability partner: Having someone to check in with can help you stay on track.
• Reward yourself for progress: Celebrate your achievements, no matter how small.
• Don’t be afraid to adjust your goals: As you progress, you may need to adapt and alter your goals appropriately.
• Be patient with yourself: Building self-discipline takes time and effort.

Always believe 100% in yourself and your ability to achieve your goals.

With consistent effort and small, daily steps, you can cultivate and grow your self-discipline muscles and ultimately go on to unlock your full potential.

I can highly recommend the book “Atomic Habits” by James Clear for more great ideas on creating self-discipline through using small frequent goals, processes & habits and personal automation.

P.S. Here’s another of my more in-depth article on the topic of self-discipline which you can check out: "Self-Discipline Drives Success"

Hopefully that’s offered you some food for thought.

All the very best to you and yours

Andrew D Pope.