A Mother Knows Things - Discipline Builds Character

Picking up from Week 13's Little Hidden Gem: Sacrifice Will Pay Off, I am starting a series based on the principles I learned from my mother called A Mother Knows Things.

The hardest yet most accessible person to discipline is yourself.

There are so many distractions in the world vying for our attention. It is easy, even excusable, to get off track. It's true that the key to building discipline lies in starting small, starting now, and embracing the idea of restarting when necessary.

Every morning, one of the first things that I do is make up my bed, which is a habit instilled in me from childhood. This small accomplishment sets the tone for my day. I consider it the building block of my day. An organized and decluttered bed serves as a visual cue that helps center my thoughts and prepare me to tackle the day ahead with clarity.

My other ritual that builds discipline is incorporating exercise into my morning routine. It can be as simple as doing pushups, walking my dog around the block (for added calorie burn, I sometimes throw on a weighted vest) or going for long runs through the neighborhood. The physical activity energizes me for the day ahead.

With every consistent action, I am keeping a promise to myself to strive for discipline.

I invite you to join in on the journey of self-discipline in whatever way honors you.

How are you staying disciplined?