Discipline is a word no one likes. It brings up different images for different people. For some it might bring up unpleasant memories of childhood. Others might think of discipline they received from a teacher, preacher, nun, police officer, etc. Discipline comes in many forms.
If we look up the word in the dictionary we get varying degrees of definitions:
1 : punishment
2 obsolete : instruction
3 : a field of study
4 : training that corrects, molds, or perfects the mental faculties or moral character
5 a : control gained by enforcing obedience or order b : orderly or prescribed conduct or pattern of behavior c :self-control
6 : a rule or system of rules governing conduct or activity
Could we as people not come up two different words for punishment and training? Because we associate the word mostly with punishment the good aspects of having discipline are often overlooked or neglected. I started thinking about this last night as I was reading through a Henri Nouwen book called “The Way Of The Heart: Connecting with God through prayer, wisdom, and silence”. In the chapter I was reading Nouwen was talking about solitude and how we should use it to our advantage, but it takes discipline. He stated ”
But a real discipline never remains vague or general. It is as concrete and specific as daily life itself.
I stopped reading and started thinking about that quote. How many times have I said I want to do something, but do not lay out a plan to achieve what I want to do. I want to lose weight, learn a new skill,save more money, etc…all these lofty ideas but no bearing behind them. My want for these things is not concrete because I have not made it so. I have not planned out more than speaking.
Tonight I am thinking more about what it means to be concrete and specific with what I want to accomplish. How setting goals requires discipline and my goals can not be laid on a foundation of vague.
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