We had a sign in the high school football locker room, “Discipline is not what I do to you, it is what I do for you”. As a high school football coach, an unexpected requirement of the job was to convince young men that discipline is not a bad word. Until that point in their life for most, discipline had become synonymous with punishment. When they hear the word discipline from a football coach, they envision endless wind sprints or up/downs.

Even the dictionary definition paints that picture - the practice of training people to obey rules or a code of behavior, using punishment to correct disobedience.
Somewhere along the way, we turned discipline into a dirty word. We hear it and think punishment, restriction, or someone taking away our freedom. But what if discipline isn’t the enemy of freedom? What if it is actually the doorway to it?

Discipline is really a positive exercise around choice that not only prevents negative consequences (that bad stuff like ‘time out’ as a 3-year-old or those dreaded wind sprints) but more importantly makes good stuff better and prepares us or our team for the challenges ahead. It is a good thing that grows us.

There is a conscious part of discipline, it is the mindfulness and awareness to self-regulate. Managing our own thoughts, feelings and actions – is the cornerstone of a successful life. If we are an effective manager of ourselves, our discipline comes from within. Most people can prioritize and even organize around their priorities, however many lack the discipline to choose and execute according to their priorities.

When discipline is imposed from the outside (a coach, parent, manager) it will eventually wane and dissipate when there is no desire to match from within.
Making better mental choices (accountable choices) requires mental discipline. Mental discipline is essential to the process of winning, especially in times of uncertainty (change). Mental discipline is key to finishing what we start.
Discipline to not eat the second piece of cake; to exercise no matter what the weather; to say I am sorry or to bite my tongue (so I will not have to say sorry later); to call my mom once a week; to not engage in negative office small talk; to manage my time effectively and so on.

Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishments; discipline takes us from wishing for success to achieving it. We cannot just talk our way to success; we need to discipline ourselves with action to make it happen.

It was interesting to learn that the original Greek word used for discipline is also where we get the English word gymnasium. Training, practice, discipline - all are required for success in sports, work and in life.

I am a big proponent of showing up early. Being early reveals integrity and self-discipline, it shows respect for others, it assures us we are ready to be at our best when called, it shows we are dependable. There is the concept of “Lombardi time.” Vince Lombardi, the Hall of Fame Green Bay Packer Head Coach, always taught his players and coaching staff they should arrive fifteen minutes early for a meeting or an appointment. Many former Green Bay players and coaching assistants claim that “Lombardi Time” taught them discipline and helped them to appreciate how the value of time. As a subtle nod to Lombardi’s expectations, the Packers organization honored their legendary coach and paid tribute to “Lombardi Time” by setting their clock outside of Lambeau Field fifteen minutes early.

Cadence be it with prayer, exercising, our work routine –can build discipline and sets the pace for life. Consistency is the quality of being logical, consistent, and sound; there is unity, and clarity between the vision and mission, roles and goals, priority and a plan, and desires and discipline. It is a unified whole. Being dependable means putting work in every day. Rome wasn’t built in a day, but they laid bricks every hour.

Patience and discipline are required virtues to grow something great. Ignoring any of the minor details till the due date, then expecting to collect a reward, is foolish. An unexamined or unmaintained field soon becomes unusable due to weeds.
Small undisciplined decisions rarely destroy us overnight. They slowly drift us off course. Direction not intention determines destination; discipline not desire determines destiny.

Aesop’s fable of the ant versus the grasshopper is centered on discipline. The ant is symbolic of discipline. Diligent in its approach to life – storing food for winter, working as part of a colony and supporting others. While the grasshopper is carefree and overly individualistic, lacking in discipline.

Note that being obedient is not the same as being disciplined. Obedience is following the rules, meeting deadlines and checking the boxes that we did what we were supposed to do (being competent). Discipline is more than following rules, it is about doing the right thing (there is no rule that says if we used the last of the toilet paper, put on a new roll), about living a code of accountability to exceed expectations and being “excellent”.

Modeling a disciplined life is far more effective than correcting disobedience. Honoring our word each and every day is discipline mentoring in its simplest form. Any individual can dole out the punishment form of discipline, especially from a ‘leadership’ position. However true leaders strive to provide understanding and to actively help deal with the larger issue that resulted in the mistake.

John Wooden said that ‘effective discipline’ has two elements: it does not antagonize and it does influence. It is very difficult to antagonize and influence or teach at the same time.

‘Making a difference’ is a continual long-term disciplined effort that requires work and sacrifice; ‘making a scene’ is easy and convenient. I did a blog on how today too many people are concerned with making a scene and not focused on making a difference. Society often lacks the resolve and patience to follow up with consistent disciplined action, because it is hard and takes time.

The words ‘discipline’ and ‘disciple’ share the same Latin root word for ‘pupil’. The concept is that we surrender ourselves to something or someone, similar to an athlete surrendering his will to a coach or a student to her teacher. As disciples our surrender is to God and His wisdom. Every disciple of Christ must practice discipline as we “train ourselves to be godly” (1 Timothy 4:7).

Proverbs of Solomon is written for us to gain discipline for wise conflict management “for gaining wisdom and instruction; for understanding words of insight; for receiving instruction in prudent behavior, doing what is right and just and fair” (Prov. 1:2-3). Solomon also said that we should love discipline “Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but whoever hates correction is stupid.” (Prov. 12:1).

Also referencing back to Aesop and the Ant, “Go to the ant, O sluggard, Observe her ways and be wise, which, having no chief, officer or ruler, prepares her food in the summer and gathers her provision in the harvest.” (Prov. 6:6-8).

Spiritual growth knows no shortcuts; it too requires effort and hard work. No quick fixes or hacks will allow us to skip the difficult steps. At the end of the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 7:24-27), Jesus contrasts the lives of those who exercise discipline and expend spiritual energy to grow in faith to those taking the easier way. Busting up rock and digging a deep foundation to build a house on solid rock is hard work. Building a house on sand is a spiritual hack doomed to fail.
St. Augustine preached that availing ourselves of the disciplines and rituals of the Church are channels for receiving God’s grace, they are not avenues of performing for God.

Whether cheating on an exam, at work, or on in life, we are not just cheating ourselves out of being more educated, more trusted; we are missing out on God's blessing. Diligent preparation and practice reduce the temptation to cheat. The risk in cheating can range from a failed exam, a speeding ticket, to the destruction of a marriage. Living a life that honors God requires hard work and discipline; but the reward of God's inheritance is immeasurable.

In 2 Timothy 2, St. Paul’s reminds Timothy of soldiers, athletes, and farmers having incredible discipline and hard work to stay the course and produce an outcome. The soldier working within the boundaries of the hierarchy of command to win a battle; the athlete adhering to the rules of the game to win a race; the farmer working the soil, planting, and reaping a harvest. In each of these, quitting is not an option.

Nobody applauds discipline in the moment. Yet everybody wants the harvest. Few people love the daily plowing, weeding, and watering. Discipline is ordinary faithfulness repeated long enough. Nobody accidentally becomes strong—physically, mentally, relationally, or spiritually.

Discipline is not what life does to us. It is what God is trying to do for us.