Morning is a beautiful time to walk in Alabama, especially after a rainy night. The grass is taller and greener as spring moves in. The trees are lush and look refreshed. The blooming flowers attract bees and butterflies. The time alone with God is its own reward. If I had not gotten to bed at a reasonable time, the morning would not have felt so fresh.
As a young girl and even as a grown woman, it took years to figure out that I could love mornings! Amazingly, they have become my favorite part of the day. It occurred to me that getting enough sleep, without getting too much sleep, is essential to long-term success and well-being. In college, I didn't understand that, even though my mother had told me for years that 10:00 p.m. was a good time to go to bed. It always seemed to me that staying up late was a rite of passage into adulthood, a boundary crossing for those (adults!) privileged enough to do whatever they wanted to do whenever they wanted to do it (a perception that is self-correcting in time). Unfortunately, the lack of discipline about bed time turned into rough mornings, especially when those 8:00 a.m. classes beckoned.
Discipline is required of you, not by your parents, coaches, teachers or employers so much as by your own body and mind. Recently I heard a speaker remind me that everyone has two choices: Discipline or regret. There is no middle ground! We might be able to put off the regret for a little while, but it catches up in poor health, failed exams, lost income or a realization of wasted time that you can't get back. Delayed gratification is key to success.
What is a lack of discipline costing you? Is there an area where you could gain from a habit change? It begins with a choice.
What is a lack of discipline costing you? Is there an area where you could gain from a habit change? It begins with a choice.