DISCIPLINE 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
I'll leave out "discipline" where it is concerning punishment or something controlled by others. For me, the Nine Noble Virtues are more concerned with how an individual acts, treats others, and does things. So, for this purpose, Discipline will be addressed as "training that corrects, molds, or perfects the mental faculties or moral character" and "self-control".
This is the one virtue that I struggle with the most. I guess I have ADD/ADHD, so it's easy for my attention to be pulled away from a project. But, if I'm completely into a project, I will ignore everything else. There are many things that I start and try to complete, and some get forgotten. I've tried exercise, but I get busy with other things, like family or school or work, and I don't set aside time for it. I just started back to school in January 2011, and it's the first time (other than massage school) in over a decade. The last time I applied myself in school was the mid 1980s in Elementary School. I have a hard time with self-discipline when it comes to studying and homework. With all the kids that we have, it's easy to get sidetracked and not keep up with homework. I get so many projects going sometimes that I can't dedicate enough time to most of them, so some fall short of completion. This is a major problem for me.
As I do these blogs on the NNV, I try not to address very specific situations or point out the faults of individuals by name. I have my own faults, and am aware of many of them, though, I'm sure others could point out more. Just as I'm aware of many of my faults, I'm sure others are aware of their faults, and what I may find as a fault might not be a fault for someone else. I've tried to discipline myself over the years to do my best to avoid pointing fingers, and so far, I believe I've done well.
I do best with only a few projects, but many times, there are many projects that NEED to be done. From time to time, I try to recruit others that might have the time to help out on those projects. I like volunteers, but sometimes, I have to draft them. I don't make them do it, but encourage it. Sometimes, it is more work to draft someone than it is to just do it myself.
Self discipline is a virtue that many of us could work on in our own lives. I encourage others to set goals and organize a plan to accomplish those goals. I challenge myself to do the same. I ask others to encourage me to stay focused and disciplined enough to reach those goals and finish projects. We all can use a little enc