Discipline….One word… thousands of opinions and more wide meaning one can have ever thought about.

  • Is it punishment? Is it obedience?
  • Is it rules and regulations? Is it enforcement or compulsory?
  • Is it always doing the same thing or same pattern? Is it always doing the right thing or the correct path to follow?
  • Is it consistency and to flow with the process? Is it doing what we are told?
  • Is it rigid or solid? Is it boring or interesting?

Do you even get a choice or option? Do you just comply?

To understand what discipline really is and what it really means, let’s look at the origin of the word to find its intent and true form and everything revolving around it and that surrounds it. The root word of discipline is “disciple,” which comes from the Latin word discipulus meaning “student.” Most people believe a disciple is a follower or following but in reality it means student or learner as in, “one who studies or one who learns.” The word “discipline” is from the Latin word disciplina, meaning “instruction and training and guidance.” It is derived from the root word discere “to learn.”

So what is discipline?

Discipline is to study, learn, train, and apply a system of standards for the betterment of life and mankind always.

What is not discipline?

Discipline is not rules, regulations, or punishment or anything obligatory as any individual may think. It is not compliance, obedience, or enforcement or anything compulsory to follow always. It is not rigid, boring, or always doing the same thing or same form as done previously. Discipline is not something others do to you or an individual does to another individual. It is something you do for yourself and betterment for them self only apart from anyone else. You can receive instruction or guidance from one or many sources, but the source of discipline is not external or something from outside. It is internal or something within. Discipline is not obedience to someone else’s standards or status to avoid punishment respectively. It is learning and applying intentional standards to achieve meaningful objectives and goals. Discipline is a choice. It is a decision. The distinction between discipline is being an external dynamic or an internal dynamic, a mandatory rule or a personal choice, is important and necessary always. Understanding this at a deeper level is the gateway into a better, more discipline-driven life full of peace and nurture only.

How does it work?

When the individual understand discipline as a choice, they are in control of themselves, not of anyone or anything else. More discipline, more choice, more control and more peaceful life. Less discipline, less choice, less control and more messy the life becomes.

Now let consider a common example: I want to get up at 4:45am and workout and exercise. I have a four month-old daughter who usually wakes up at 6:00am and, like all babies, needs a lot of time and attention and focus. I have to take care of him, make coffee, get myself ready, and leave for work by 7:30am sharp. So I need to work out before he wakes up and is awake. My alarm goes off, I choose discipline, get up, workout, wake up my son, love on him, and leave for work all according to the routine and schedule made. My first win of the day is in the books and my mind is clear to focus on my next priorities knowing my workout is done and I do not have to “find the time” to make it up later or carry it forward. I am in control of me and my day. I can even splurge a little at lunch or dinner because I worked out hard. I burned so I earned.

But what if I do not choose discipline?

My alarm goes off, I choose default or snooze, sleep in, wake up my son, still love on him, and leave for work vague in nature. I am mentally and emotionally disappointed in myself because I should have gotten up and worked out and start the day as planned. My mind is searching for when I can make it up and make things better. Now I am disappointed and distracted and depressed. I am not in control of me or my day. I am stressed and irritated and at the same time my discipline fades even further, so I make impulsive eating decisions at lunch and dinner because I am already having an off-day. May as well has been consistent or regular.

Discipline is understood (from the Latin discipulus , “disciple, of student”) refers to a coordinated, orderly and systematic way of doing things , according to a method or code or some consideration of the correct way of doing things and other stuffs as well. In principle, discipline has to do with the teaching of this method, with the work of teaching or organizing a collective, in order to achieve a task more quickly or efficiently for all always. In cases where an individual exercises discipline over himself, one speaks of self discipline too. There is talk of discipline in various environments, such as the family (in which children are disciplined), the military (in which absolute obedience is required) or the school (in which children are professionally or academically trained), and also in the ethical and moral, referring in that case to the necessary suppression of certain individual impulses towards understanding, professionalism and living community respectively. Probably from its original meaning, the consideration of discipline is also derived as an orderly, structured, methodical set of knowledge, a crucial concept for the organization of science and academic knowledge as well. This same meaning applies to certain sports (sports disciplines) or even art forms as well. However, at certain times discipline may become somewhat negative, when it becomes synonymous with repression, censorship, compliances with the orders of a superior, however fair or unfair, violence by the powerful maybe. In fact, in past centuries this word was used to refer to the physical punishment of slaves and also to the physical punishment that was exercised on children in a family which was wrong as this is not what discipline means.

Disciplineasa value-Discipline is valued and is understood as a positive feature of the individual, when it translates into the ability to follow instructions, to obey a logical and positive system of doing things, or even when an individual is able to impose a method on himself and follow it to the letter (self-discipline) as well.

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For example: a disciplined worker will be one who obeys a work method of few distractions, great results and constancy in doing the task. A disciplined student is one who undertakes study as a method to adhere to with commitment and dedication. That is, those who perform their work in an orderly and systematic, methodical way only.

There are various types of discipline, judging by the field that encourages them, mentioned below:

  1. Military discipline- This is the discipline that which concerns the fidelity of the armed forces, whose role is to guarantee the system and the protection of the nation, so that they can only be disciplined and organized, without room for play or doubt or any other such thing.
  2. School discipline- This is that kind of discipline which occurs within the various educational institutions, from preschool to universities, and that guarantees the continuity in time of knowledge and a method of imparting them progressively and precisely.
  3. Labour discipline- This is that type of discipline which has to do with professional performance, and that distinguishes labour issues from personal ones, ensuring that the work is carried out in an orderly and effective manner without any hassle and trouble.
  4. Self – discipline- This is that kind of discipline which, in any field, applies to oneself to carry out a task in a stipulated time and in an orderly manner too.

Discipline is a way of life, where one tries to be on time and live systematically and in a way to enhance their lifestyle. It is not limited to money, riches, or poverty, but it is just a personal orientation towards life and way of seeing live precisely. It is a habit and not an adaptation in life and one need to understand this always. So one can practice discipline for a better life and better future always. Many successful people attribute their success to discipline as well. For them, more than knowledge, communication, or skill, discipline played a key role in their way to success which is actually true and obvious. Discipline in life has many virtues like being focused, staying healthy, and also avoiding problems as well. As per the current lifestyle and social trends, discipline techniques seem to be essential life skills and ability to look up to. Discipline is one of the factors by which people judge others too. Those highly talented and hard-working people cannot be successful if they are not disciplined properly. Discipline extends to personal life, career, work, study, lifestyle, and even social life too at some point. So it is good to inculcate student discipline in schools as well.  This school discipline can help children habituate it and can be carried on for life till the very end of it.

Importance of Discipline-

Being disciplined helps gain many advantages in life. Strict disciple helps an individual-

1. To be focused- Being disciplined helps one stay focused on his work, activities, or goals and other things as well. Have you notice people with strong goals are more focused and work on time in everyday life according to the routine and schedule decided previously. On the other hand, those who are not focused on life seem to be in-disciplined or less disciplined always. This indicates that being disciplined helps one stay focused in life and to grow and prosper too. They systemically perform their activities, avoiding mental disturbances or deviations as well always.

2. Be respected by others- Discipline helps command respect from others too. Many people struggle to gain respect from others in the workplace as well. But the easiest way to get respect is to be disciplined in every aspect. Have you ever come across to people who are disciplined and not respected? People around and also the sub-ordinates respect a disciplined person irrespective of the position. The reasons are Firstly it is tough to be disciplined for anyone or everyone. And if you follow it, then you will have respect from others for that ability as well.  If you are an employee, due to discipline, you tend to complete work in time, be in the workplace at a time, or any other place. This helps you win respect from your boss or employer and grow too always. In studies, being disciplined helps you complete your homework, exam preparation in time and helps you gain the highest score and achieve success respectively. This wins you respect from your colleagues and fellow classmates also. If you are a boss or leader of the group, being disciplined helps you command your subordinates’ respect respectively. In turn, they tend to be disciplined and help to complete your goals and reach higher levels too. There are chances as well that, based on your self-discipline, others might consider you as a role model and admire too.

3. Attain self-confidence- Self-confidence is an essential attitude a person needs to make an effort in life and to succeed as well at the same time. For any major goal or work, self-confidence helps to take up the task, learn and work for and achieve the goal in a proper way also. Being disciplined helps one achieve sufficient levels of self-confidence and prosper in life always.

4. Stay healthy- Disciplined life includes regular habits like taking food, medicine (if any), having a bath, exercise, walking, and sleeping at the right time and in a systematic manner respectively. Exercise and other regular habits will tune the body and mind to always remain healthy and active precisely. Even in case of a chronic disease taking medicines at a regular time helps get well soon and be back to normal also.

5. Live active- Discipline is a way of a positive outlook on life and the creation also. There are enthusiasm and self-confidence from within to do any work always. So it keeps one active and not lazy instead which harms the body. Notice anyone who is disciplined; he/ she is always active in comparison to others who is not disciplined. Also, due to disciplined habits like having food, sleep, and exercise regularly, they stay active the whole day and fit and fine too.

6. Gain Self-control- A person with self-discipline has more self-control over himself than the person is not disciplined precisely. He or she is careful in using words while talking, and even careful with her or his behaviour, etc and usually avoiding being entangled in silly problems as well. This way, he or she also builds good relations with people in the society as well.

7. Perform Better in academics- Discipline in education is essential for better education and learning as well. Education is incomplete without learning discipline in wider sense and so. Classroom discipline helps students to listen to teachings well and also cover the entire syllabus on time always. While coming to school in time helps them awake early, attend nature calls, have a bath and breakfast in time which is quite important in the life of an individual. Hence discipline in schools helps students stay healthy, which is good for the growth of both body and mind respectively.

8. Achieve goals in life and be happy- If an individual have larger goals in life, they can achieve them with a combination of passion, discipline and hard work. Being disciplined help get thing done faster and at the right time with proper and systematic manner. Though some things happen late due to other factors, still one with discipline gets them done faster than others due to his self-discipline, like being on time precisely. So this leads to peace of mind and keeps one happier and at peace. Consider yourself in a situation when one of your family members asked you to go out in the evening for some work. If you are disciplined, you complete your work in time and try to give your time to them as well. If not, they get hurt by you and this leads to loss of happiness and smile. This is a common or routine issue in many families in today’s time. So an individual should always try to stay disciplined. It helps to keep family and friends happy.

9. Have more time in a day- A disciplined person has more time in a day than an undisciplined person and this is proven too. So more time means there is more chance to do extra works or other pending works or to even relax. We can overcome procrastination and laziness at work too by just being disciplined.

10. Avoid stress and remain tension-free- One has tension during competitive exams or daily routine work too. This is an internal anxiety or unknown fear about the outcome of the work or the result. Staying disciplined helps one study well in advance and not just before exams, so he or she remains tension-free. If it is a workplace, the work is planned well and executed in time due to discipline, so there is no stress or last moment struggle and trouble. So discipline helps one stay stress-free, raise their self-esteem and also get out of possible depression.

To conclude the essay we can say that discipline is one of the key elements of anyone’s life. A person can only be successful if she/he strictly lives a healthy and disciplined life precisely. Besides, discipline also helps us in a lot of ways and motivates the person around us to be disciplined too. The level of discipline a person achieves may vary depending on his willpower and living condition and other factors. Children and parents will have different views on discipline but they must incorporate it into their lives to have a positive influence on each other and to sustain a peaceful life. Last but not the least, it is the discipline that helps an individual to evolve and become a better version of themself and to even grown and succeed and prosper in life.

THANK YOU. REFERENCE FROM- www.wikipedia.discipline.com