Hey everyone, and welcome to TopThink. Today, we will learn twelve habits to
build iron self-discipline. Now, let’s begin.
What does it take to be a strong and disciplined person? Around the world, people have achieved
incredible feats — both physical and intellectual — by developing unstoppable self-discipline.
Through time and practice, these people strengthened their minds and tested their
limits, building enough motivation to confront intimidating obstacles and overcome their fears.
Along the way, they conquered their bad habits and learned the importance of delaying gratification.
They consistently empowered themselves to surpass expectations and, through hard work and
perseverance, achieved their highest ambitions. In other words, these individuals worked harder
and pushed further to manifest their definition of success, and you can follow in their footsteps.
From an outsider’s perspective, the people you admire, from great thinkers to innovative
entrepreneurs, might seem like a different breed. You look at their accomplishments and wonder if
they possess some magic quality that the rest of us don’t. It might surprise you to learn
that these people — no matter how superhuman they seem — weren’t always as strong or disciplined as
they are today. There was a time when every one of them lacked motivation and struggled to keep
their vices under control. There were probably moments in their lives, maybe not too long ago,
when they failed to get their goals off the ground; when they wasted time, took the easy road,
or fell victim to fear and self-doubt. In other words, these disciplined people faced many of the
same obstacles we face every day, yet they were able to overcome those obstacles. How?
By engineering unstoppable discipline from the ground up, changing their lives one day at a time.
In many ways, building a productive and disciplined lifestyle is like constructing
a house. Before raising walls and rooms, you need a sturdy foundation to hold and support
the structure you want to create. In the same way, every disciplined person relies
on a consistent routine, day in and day out, to support their lifestyle, grow their motivation,
and catch them when they fall. Only when you have this foundational routine can you start
expanding your life and accomplishing meaningful goals. With that in mind, let’s explore twelve
powerful habits and routines that build iron self-discipline and cultivate lifelong success.
1. Kill the Siren In Greek mythology, sirens are attractive,
human-like creatures that tempt passing sailors with their beautiful voices. Any sailor who fell
under their spell would inevitably die. As such, sirens became popular symbols of temptation and
the dangers of giving in to our impulsive desires. Like it or not, we all have sirens that we must
overcome —things that sound alluring but really lead us down the wrong path. For some people,
it might be sweets and junk food. For others, it’s video games or social media. Developing
self-discipline means eliminating these temptations from your life. If you learn
to control your desires, you may save yourself from a lifetime of bad decisions.
2. Fire in Your Heart We’ve all experienced moments when
people didn’t give us enough credit. Maybe you’ve been overlooked or underestimated. Maybe someone
belittled your accomplishments or criticized your work. These moments can stir up negative emotions,
like anger and frustration, but those emotions can also be powerful sources of motivation.
Use criticism as fuel for the fire in your heart. Whenever someone puts you down or leaves you out,
double your motivation to prove them wrong. 3. Start Your Day with Strength
How you begin the day sets the tone for everything that comes after. If you start the
morning by slacking off, you’re likely to have an unproductive afternoon and evening. On the
other hand, if you start each day on a high note, you can maintain that momentum for hours after.
Many of the most disciplined begin each morning by physically activating their bodies and minds.
For example, a brief routine of calisthenics will leave you feeling supercharged for the rest of the
day. If possible, work your way up to three sets of ten push-ups every morning. It only takes a
few minutes of your time, but those few minutes can kickstart hours of focus and productivity.
4. Do Battle with Your Weaknesses What are your weaknesses? Many people
have trouble identifying where they struggle, so they end up tripping over the same hurdles
again and again. However, if you recognize your weaknesses ahead of time, you can build habits
that prevent you from falling into the same traps. For example, many people have a bad habit of
checking their phones throughout the workday. To prevent this bad habit, they might slip
their phone into a drawer while they work or install a media blocker to limit their searches.
Simple tricks like these allow us to combat our vices and stay focused when it counts.
5. The Exposure Effect Many people have trouble following
through on their goals. They start strong but, over time, sink into their old habits. Luckily,
there’s a better way to keep yourself focused on your goals. All you need to do is remind
yourself what is important to you and why. The more often you’re exposed to your goals,
the more prevalent they’ll become in your life. For example, you might write your goals on a
sheet of paper and stick it someplace you see every day, like your bathroom mirror.
Each time you look in the mirror, you’ll read your goals and feel inspired all over again.
6. Your Biggest Enemy What’s the biggest roadblock standing in the
way of your self-discipline? For many people, it’s the addictive power of technology. Our devices,
like our phones and computers, steal our time, reduce our motivation, and even shorten our
attention spans. Technology is not inherently bad, but the many mindless forms of entertainment out
there can negatively impact your self-discipline. If this sounds familiar, it’s time to distance
yourself from your technology. It may be hard to separate yourself from your devices, but
overcoming this common obstacle may be your first big step toward a more disciplined lifestyle.
7. Operant Conditioning In the 1930s, psychologist B.F. Skinner developed
a reliable method of controlling our behavior. This technique, known as operant conditioning,
uses a system of rewards or consequences to influence how we behave. Operant conditioning
sounds like a clinical concept, but it can also help you build the discipline you’re looking for.
Let’s say you want to exercise more often. You’re having trouble following through, but what if you
offered yourself a reward each time you worked out? Knowing you’ll receive something good
gives you a concrete reason to follow through. At first, you may rely on these rewards to motivate
healthy habits, but as you become disciplined, you may find the motivation all on your own.
8. The Power of Your Voice Your voice is a powerful tool,
especially when it comes to self-discipline. Simply by voicing your ambitions, studies have
shown that you’re more likely to pursue them. So, put yourself out there. Speak your goals
to life. Once you hear those goals in your own words, they’ll suddenly feel real and tangible,
empowering you to finally achieve your dreams. Keep in mind that this is an activity best
done alone. Ideally, you should find a space where you can talk to yourself without feeling
doubt or insecurity. When you know people are listening, you’re less likely to say what’s
really on your mind. So carve out some alone time and use the power of your voice to its fullest.
9. Push Beyond Your Limits
If you want to develop iron self-discipline, you need to prove that you can push beyond
your limits. Exercise is of the best ways to challenge and expand your perceived limitations.
Lifting weights, for example, proves just how strong you can be, not just physically but
mentally, emotionally, and socially. Every time you set a new personal best, it radically expands
your drive, courage, and potential. So, get in the gym and prove to yourself that you can surpass
your limits. Because that same spirit will help you stay disciplined in every aspect of your life.
10. Conquer Your Schedule Many of us lead busy, jam-packed lives.
We have dates to memorize, promises to keep, and commitments to deliver upon. With so many things
shuffling around our brains, some things are bound to slip through the cracks. Promises are
forgotten. Goals are neglected, and you may lose track of the healthy habits you want to learn.
If you want to become a more disciplined person, organization is key. It helps to use simple
systems like calendars and to-do lists to keep yourself focused on what you want to achieve.
Organizing your time not only frees up mental space but it gives you a newfound sense of power
and control. Once you’ve conquered your schedule, you’ll feel ready to start conquering your goals.
11. Countdown to Action Do you have trouble starting
projects? For many people, starting is the hardest part. They struggle over
and over to put themselves in a productive state of mind. But the hours keep passing,
and they hardly make an ounce of progress. If you want to be more productive without
wasting time, here is a simple trick to stay disciplined no matter how lazy you feel.
All you have to do is close your eyes and count down from ten. As you count,
your mind will naturally work through any anxiety and descend into a greater state of focus.
By the time you reach one, you’ll be ready and raring to go.
12. Make Your Vision a Reality Here’s a question that some people
never ask themselves: what do you really want out of your life? Imagine, for a moment, what you want
your life to look like a few years in the future. Think about your career and relationships. What
kind of life do you want to lead, and how do you spend your time? When you’ve narrowed down your
answer, pull out some paper and write down a few concrete steps you can take today to achieve at
least one part of your vision. Sometimes, all it takes is a little clarity to prove
to ourselves how much we can achieve. Thank you for watching TopThink and
be sure to subscribe because more incredible content is on the way.