For starters, if you’ve read my posts or had a conversation with me, you’ll know I’m not a serious person nor a perfect one. I work in an industry that relies and depends on discipline; the discipline of an Olympic gold medalist, a high school competition, or someone attempting to reduce 3 pounds of fat. I’ve worked alongside coaches and professionals with a high standard of self-discipline who expect the same from the individuals and athletes they work with.

On the other hand, I couldn’t care less about how undisciplined someone is. The issue with someone that doesn’t fit my standards is not with them, but with me. The problem unearths when we take someone else’s lack of discipline as a personal attack on our homeostasis. “How dare they disrespect me like that.” But what has someone’s learned and practiced behavior got anything to do with you?

What Is Discipline? 

Let’s set the record straight by asking some pertinent questions. Let us look at several various definitions of discipline. What is the best place to look for information? Yes, I was there as well. Wikipedia. Okay, calm down your horses. Just because it’s Wikipedia doesn’t mean all its content is unreliable. The word’s origins can be traced to Latin Disciplina, which means “learning, teaching, giving instructions, knowledge,” and Discipulus, which means “follower, student, pupil,” AKA Disciple.

What is the first thing that springs to mind when you hear the word disciple? I don’t wish to start a controversy, but isn’t this term used within religious settings where blind faith is considered necessary? ____ and his disciples / We are disciples of ____.

Here are some varying definitions of the word Discipline:

• Self-Control
• Enforcing Obedience, Orderly Behavior / Behavior Patterns
• A subject of study
• Punishment of some kind
• Mental training that corrects, perfects, or shapes mental faculties

We also use it in everyday talks, such as “I lack discipline to eat a balanced diet” or “I lack discipline to go to the gym.” I ought to discipline this kid, or she has to learn some discipline. You’re saying that you or someone else lacks self-control or focus or that your existing patterns of behavior/habit/action aren’t serving you well.

I could go on and on with instances and context, but I think you got the picture by now. Being a professional nowadays requires being serious and in complete self-control. I’m not going to give you a lecture on what it means to be a professional.

Is Being Disciplined Confused with Being Serious?

We have to understand that we associate seriousness with discipline and self-perfection. When many of us hear the word discipline, we immediately think of the military, don’t we? Shaolin monks, for example. Someone who is wholly committed to their work. They sleep, eat, train, and work with total focus. But, to be truthful, no one knows what they’re talking about or understands how their words influence your behavior.

I thought the same way for most of my life until I started accepting my flaws and realizing perfection is only an illusion. Who in the bloody hell wants a serious person during challenging times? I mean, we can easily draw the line between, hey, no fucking around during practice, but why can’t we have fun? Why can’t well-organized training or a productive workday be enjoyable? Imagine going through a difficult day in your life and then realizing, awhh, I have to see that person/boss/coach that yanks my chain and is constantly on my case.

Like any other quality, discipline can be developed if you understand how behavior change works. As a coach, you can assist individuals in becoming everything they want to be and more. However, the coach must possess the similar attributes that their athletes require and instill in them. An athlete-coach relationship is no different from a teacher-student, guru-disciple, or mentor-mentee relationship like Mr.Miyagi-Danielsan.

I know for a fact that if you want to be admired and respected, you must treat people the way they want to be treated. Not how you’d like to be treated. That’s right; you read that correctly! This quote on being a decent person is frequently advertised – “Treat people the way you’d like to be treated.”

Nope. Treat people as they would like to be treated.

Meet the individuals you work with at the level where they are mentally, physically, psychologically, and spiritually, not where you are. Then show them glimpses of their potential and nudge them towards greatness.

                                                         – Dishant Sheth