This is part 1 of a series on Discipline. I have written two other series so far – one on Awareness and one on Stillness. Please check those out as well if you are new here.
This series on discipline is the third series in our Tao Te Ching Exploration Project. Throughout this project, we will be discussing some of the basic principles brought up throughout the Tao Te Ching. The principles we will cover are Awareness, Stillness, Discipline, Humility, Flexibility, Consistency, Connection, Service and Leadership. I am sure that there are many other principles that have been discussed throughout the text, but these are the nine topics that I am choosing to focus on over the next several months.
I relate to each principle by focusing our attention on each of the nine chakras, based on the Q’ero Shamans’ chakra system that is explained in depth in Dr. Alberto Villoldo’s book, Shaman, Healer, Sage
I hope that you are enjoying the series and will continue to explore with us throughout the rest of the project.
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Discipline – Part 1
In the U.S., we use the word discipline as a way of parenting.
To many people in the U.S., discipline means how you punish your children. You “discipline” your child. To me, this is very sad because it has taken a really great word and made it seem negative to lots of people. For those children who were disciplined, they want to run from it. That is not the meaning that we are talking about in this series.
For this series, I want a re-frame.
In this series, when I talk about discipline, I am talking about sticking to things and recognizing what is needed and having the wherewithal to do the things that are needed. It might mean to eat healthy foods, to exercise your body, it could mean to do your homework if you are in school. Discipline is about getting the right things done. It’s very important. If you don’t do that and you just let things go, before you know it your life is going to be gone.
Without discipline, you will get to the end of your life and
you may say, “What did I do with my life?”
Discipline is quite an amazing principle to have in your life. In this first part, we are looking at the first chakra. The first chakra is your home base. It is the ancestry, what has been learned in your prior experiences…anything that comes from your parents, from your ancestors, from your family, from your ethnic background.
In my own experience as an American, I have not seen a lot of discipline that is taught in our culture overall. I see pockets of it in musical development and athletic training. Many families are very disciplined when it comes to participating and excelling in sports in the U.S. Some families are very disciplined when it comes to financial training. Overall, it is impossible to say because we really are such a melting pot of unique cultural practices.
Many cultures around the world have a sense of discipline ingrained in their entire cultural experience. Many cultures have a strong martial arts background that is integrated into the culture and daily life, which is very helpful in encouraging discipline in life overall. Any sort of training that requires one to stay focused on learning and developing a specific skill requires discipline.
When I look at my own life and at my history with discipline, I think of my Dad. My Dad is a very self-disciplined person. He has always been a model for me of looking at what needs to be done and just doing it. I hope that I live that somewhat as a model for my daughter. When I was in my twenties, I learned Tai Chi. My teacher was excellent and he really helped me to learn the principle of discipline as a tool for my life.
Discipline is an important skill
to pass on to your children through modeling.
I chose discipline as one of the principles to practice because discipline can be an incredible tool for your life to really help you achieve the things you want to set out and do. We can talk about our history and about what sort of things we bring from the past, but in the end, it doesn’t always matter. You get to start fresh every day. You also get to fail every day. That is the nature of discipline.
If you are lucky enough to have been raised with a sense of discipline, you have an advantage but anyone can develop discipline at any age.
As far as the first chakra goes, I think it is important to look at your own history with discipline. Where have you been with it in your own life? When you think of the word “discipline”, what does it feel like? What is your relationship to discipline? What are your parents like? What have your parents taught you in terms of discipline? Your grandparents? What have you learned from mentors and people who have influenced you in your lifetime? (Remember to use my definition and not the one about punishment.)
What are some of the things that have been influential to you in terms of creating discipline in your own life? I encourage you to think about that throughout this series.
Discipline is hugely important.
We want to get to the end of our lives and have incredible experiences and we want to know when we get to the end that we have done our work, whatever that is.
What about you? What came to mind as you thought about discipline here? Please share with us your thoughts with a comment below. If you enjoyed this article, please use the sharing buttons at the top of the right panel to share it with your network! Thanks!
Your re-frame of “Discipline is about getting the right things done.” brought to mind a quote I had just read earlier. “Efficiency is doing things right; effectiveness is doing the right things.” ~ Peter F. Drucker 1909-2005
I think the Universe is actively trying to get my attention. Thanks for being a part of that, Amy.
Awesome, yes. I started out assuming the definition as the one I use and then realized that I needed to do a clearing first. I had to clear that meaning of what we do to punish our children first to get that out of the way!
Fabulous, Arwen! I love your new title – Professional Joy Seeker – but are you seeking it or are you finding it?
I love your quote. I like the word effective. It is so positive. The word efficiency has a tightness to it, doesn’t it?
Oh I’m seeking it because that involves being actively engaged in finding it.
Arwen Lynch, Professional Joy Seeker recently posted..Position, Rank + Community
Ha! Agreed!
The one discipline I’m proud of passing on to my girls is discipline around money. Not being cheap but not letting money possess you. Thanks for the post. Connotation and denotation of words can distort them.
Sheila Skillingstead recently posted..When you can’t write
Discipline is a word my father used a lot with us growing up and it has had a negative feel to it but hearing how you describe it here makes me feel differently about it. It is about so many positive things as well. Thank you for helping me reframe this!
Michele Bergh recently posted..I Threw it All Away
Awesome. That was the intent!
Hi, Amy,
I love that you are reframing this! When I see people who are self-disiplined and get things done, I’m reminded of my mother who was very focused and disciplined, but not about things that I cared about–like spending time with me and my siblings. I see things in retrospect about how she fashioned her life in the way it needed to be to raise three kids on her own. I have a very strong work ethic that I believe was passed on to me.
Best, K3
That is such a cool insight, Karen. Thanks so much for stopping by and for sharing that!
Hi Amy,
This is very good. There is an idea that “God can be found in the paradox” and I have found that to be true when it comes to discipline in my life. From living in a more disciplined manner in my life – which at first seemed to be so rigid and unforgiving – I later realized that there is a freedom that comes from discipline (paradox).
In addition, I have found that there is truth in the saying, “You build self-esteem by doing esteemable acts”.
Thank you for your work – I look forward to reading more of your posts.
Nea
Nea DallaValle recently posted..What are you making it mean?
Awww. That is sweet, Nea. Thanks for stopping by! I love that you found meaning in that with what you are already practicing. This work is so much about introspection and finding the ways to have our own lives be changed by it.
Hi Amy,
Hmmm… an interesting topic. ‘Discipline’ carries a negative connotation for me, that of doing what you don’t really want to do because you are supposed to. I like the way you’ve reconfigured the word.
I’m a big believer in inspired action, and in waiting until that inspired action becomes clear. I think we can easily spend our lives being busy and accomplishing things, only to end up less fulfilled than when we began! If we slow down and listen for the still inner voice, then we’ll know exactly what to do. At the point, the notion of discipline becomes meaningless, because the work itself is pure joy.
Thank you for your blog. Your posts are always inspiring.
Carole
Carole Remy recently posted..Twelve Nights! “We’re on Amazon, Boo!”
Thanks, Carole. I think that discipline carries negative connotations for many in this culture. Sometimes things are not always easy, but if we move through them to the other side we have something that is richer somehow. I don’t believe that we always feel good about these sorts of changes. I think, for the most part, we want to avoid them (naturally), but they are there to test our endurance and give us strength. Thanks so much for your thoughtful reply.
I also like your positive connotation to the word. I think you were thinking of the authoritarian use of the word in relation to child-rearing. In Positive Parenting, the word means “to teach or guide.” Research shows that children learn best when they feel heard and valued, not when they feel on the defensive. For children AND adults, it is all about setting effective limits and then internalizing them.
Naomi recently posted..100 acts of kindness – DONE! (part 1 of 2)
Yes, my meaning today had nothing to do with parenting, but I had to get that one out of the way because for so many it is a negative thing. My parents taught me the Dryckers (?) Method of parenting and I totally loved. My parenting is by no means perfect, but it certainly helped to have that guidance and I was grateful for it. He taught a lot like what you are suggesting here.