Deep Thoughts: Where On Earth Does It Come From?
If you grew up like me; as an African kid, your understanding of the word discipline and its origin would be from koboko, cane, slaps, knocks, agbara, just to mention a few. Even a baleful look from one’s mother in a crowded room drove discipline home. Well, the favourite maxim that gave credence to this was: Spare the rod, spoil the child and even the dictionary has accepted punishment as a source of discipline.
But as I grew up, the beatings dwindled into nothing and I am left to find a new source of discipline. Discipline is now much more important because it is essential for living the good life. It keeps our heads above the water as we save for our future by studying and working in other to climb higher in life, say no to temptations of all sorts, etc. But I have noticed an oddity that this all so important factor of success goes missing sometimes as no one is disciplined all the time. In fact, I can testify to this, we (discipline and I) only cross paths intermittently and when I consciously desire it the most? Phew! It disappears. Hence the question is begged; where on earth do I find discipline so I can reach out to it anytime, anywhere?
Let’s take a look at what a few folks out there are saying
Desperation: Desperation drives discipline says, Kimberly Iverson. She may be right. Thinking back to those days in school when you haven’t read for an exam and you probably have a pile of carryovers waiting calmly for you. Desperation alone would instill the necessary discipline required to stay awake all night. But then, a person may be disciplined without necessarily being desperate. For example, can we tag students who study well in advance for exams and write the exams without experiencing the pressure of the last minute study desperate?
Hope: Self-discipline comes from having a hope that means enough to us that we refuse to give it up. We find the strength to say “No” only when we have a powerful “Yes” burning within us. Says Gary Henry, however, I can count times without number when hope was burning within me but the phrase ‘my spirit is willing but my body is weak’ kept buzzing in my ear until I gave into my flesh. Hey, Gary, I am sure hope has brought discipline in someone’s world maybe yours, but alone, it has done nothing to put me on the straight and narrow path. Gary is persistent; he tries to convince me that if I don’t get how hope works, courage should simplify it. And he says, self-discipline is courage; courage born out of hope. – Ahem! I am listening to Gary. – “When we can see the light that comes from a lighthouse, the fear of darkness is lessened and we find the strength to make for the harbor.” Now, this makes sense yet what if we wallow in the depths of hopelessness, are we saying that we can’t be disciplined; that we would just run amuck and succumb to the tug of anarchy?
Motivation: Amongst the arguments between scientists of whether or not sugar and carbohydrates are sources of discipline (If you are geeky enough to read the whole story check here), it is believed that motivation is a source of discipline. Their experiment was to use a sugary mouthwash. According to Wray Herbert, these scientists believe that the mouth “senses” the carbohydrates in the mouthwash, and this sensation signals — likely through the brain’s dopamine system — the possibility that a reward is coming. Sensing that an energy boost is coming, the brain is motivated to put in the extra effort. In short, the sugar motivates — rather than fuels — willpower. I do agree with the scientists in a way because I have seen several things motivate one to be disciplined; image, money, love, lust, health, money, more money… But haven’t you ever been disciplined without motivation being the root cause? Let’s take a look at a military person, who has acquired discipline through drills and extensive training, here motivation has no play. Can we then still say that motivation alone is the only source of discipline? My answer is no.
The diverse circumstances we face in life have widened the spectrum of discipline in which a single element may not suffice as its true source; rather, it is the amalgam of all that have been listed above; a combination of punitive measures, desperation, hope, and motivation that truly brings about discipline. For example, it took discipline to write this article and discipline came from a combination of desperation, hope, motivation borne out of a clear focus on the end goal; to build consistency in my writing.
Most of us do have goals here and there and we are looking for the discipline to carry them out, well search no more.
Jaa Mata!