Self-Discipline

From WikEd

1 Descriptions, definitions, synonyms, organizer terms, types of
2 Definition of Self-Discipline
3 Application in classrooms and similar settings
4 Evidence of effectiveness
5 Critics and their rationale
6 Alternative explanations due to Diversity considerations
7 Signed “life experiences”, testimonies and stories
8 References and other links of interest

Descriptions, definitions, synonyms, organizer terms, types of

Can you imagine what one could accomplish if you could just get yourself to follow through on what you wanted to do? If we can get to this point in ourlives we are going to find success! Isn’t this what we all want, success! I know I do. Every successful person has one thing going for them self-discipline. Self-discipline has many ways to be described and attained. Here is one example of a definition and how to go about becoming self-discipline.

Definition of Self-Discipline

Self-Discipline is the ability to get yourself to take action regardless of your emotional state. Steve Pavlina describes five steps to becoming self-discipline: Acceptance, Willpower, Hard Work, Industry, and Persistence. Acceptence – You perceive reality accurately and consciously acknowledge what you perceive. Willpower – Your ability to set a course of action and say, “Engage!” “The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather a lack of will.” Vince Lombardi Hard Work – That which challenges you. “The big secret in life is that there is no big secret. Whatever your goal, you can get there if your’re willling to work.” Oprah Winfrey Industry – Working hard. This can be easy work or hard work. Persistence – The ability to maintain action regardless of your feelings. You press on even when you feel like quitting. http://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/2005/06/self-discipline

Application in classrooms and similar settings

The application of teaching self discipline to students should be something all teachers strive for. We all know this is a difficult area for adults to master let alone students. It seems that the best students and athletes I have come across have a great deal of self-discipline. Is this something they have naturally, was it taught at home, or did they learn this from home? I believe most students need to be taught this from a very early age. Many students today do not have the homelife to help them with this. We as teachers must teach the students this concept or who will? We all know what type of peer pressure students face on a everday basis, self-discipline would help the students face these difficult situations. Some basic priciples that are important for self-discipline would be to set yourself a goal. The second step would be to find the desire to achive this goal. People will not always achieve their goals so they must learn to persevere through failures. Last but not least one must take it one step at a time. http://members.fortunecity.co.uk/siukaice/selfdiscipline.htm

Evidence of effectiveness

I believe the evidence that self-discipline works is when a person is faced with a tough or difficult problem, they are able percevere and overcome. When a person is trying to lose 20 pounds and they cannot find a way to lose that last five pounds they do not give up. They continue to exercise and stay away from the foods that they really like. This is effective self-discipline.

Critics and their rationale

Alternative explanations due to Diversity considerations

Signed “life experiences”, testimonies and stories

As a former junior high basketball I can remember a player(John Elliott) who missed a free throw and lost game in the most important game of the year. He never forgot this and worked his entire high school career to make sure that never happened again. He practiced free throws all summer long and always stayed after practice to shoot. John was fortunate enough to play on some very good high basketball teams. They made down to the state tournament and John was on the free throw line to win the game. Needless to say he made four free throws in the final 8 seconds to ice the game. He told me later he was thinking about that jr. high game as he approached the free throw line. Dale Donner

I definately attribute my high level of self-discipline to my music teachers. As an elementary band student I was always the one who won our weekly "Who Practiced the Most" contest. This continued on into high school and college. I would spend hours a day in the practice room working on my solo repetoire as well as practicing for band/flute choir etc. My teachers' (especially my undergradutate flute professor)abliity to say "this needs to be done, now do it" has helped me learn to have a great work ethic that I can now use in all aspects of my life. It is probably the best and greatest lesson I learned while growing up and I strive to instill self-discipline in all my students because I know it will serve them well long after they leave my classroom no matter what they choose to do with their lives. - C. Cyrus

Throughout my adolescence I always felt I had a lot of self-discipline and motivation. I was a member of many clubs, athletics as well as the band program. Despite the busy schedule, I enjoyed it all and wanted to excel at it all. No matter how tired I was or how much homework I had, I would still try to make it work and get to Tae Kwon Do, or put in the extra hour of practice on the trombone, or do the extra set of push-ups in gymnastics. I wanted to get better and pushed myself in all areas of my life. Now, as a teacher, I wish I saw this same self-discipline and work ethic in my students and athletes who I teach and coach. There seems to be an extreme decline in dedication both on the part of the student and the parent. I hope this is just a trend, and soon will turn around. E. Bostrom