“All of us are self-made, but only the successful are willing to admit it.” Earl Nightingale

I am a disciplined person but it hasn’t always been that way.  As a teenager and young adult I was very undisciplined.  I’ll spare everyone the details, but trust me, disciplined would not have been the word to describe me.

As an adult I began developing discipline in my life.  I would read a motivational book or hear a talk or see someone inspiring and I would implement some little thing I learned.  After I had been doing this for sometime a friend who was impressed with my progress asked me, “how do you get will power?”  That was some years ago.  I was caught off guard and really didn’t know how to answer then, but now I do.  We become a  person of will by building one small discipline upon another.  Start with one daily discipline – it can be anything valuable from flossing your teeth to praying or exercising.  Do it faithfully every day with the intent to do it forever.

“True greatness always requires regular, consistent, small, and sometimes ordinary and mundane steps over a long period of time.” Howard W. Hunter

When you have it mastered you add another and then another.  As you add disciplines make sure you are balancing the important things in life.  Are you working on your physical health and appearance, your spiritual well-being, your relationships, your intellect?  Every discipline mastered will affect every area of your life and make you a stronger, better person.   So consider:

Becoming strong and fit. Not just to have better looking and healthier body but because of what it will make of you.

Becoming a millionaire.   Not just because the money would be nice, but because of what the process will make of you.

Becoming an attentive and loving husband or wife. Not just because a loving marriage is wonderful, but because of what you will become in the process.

Becoming well educated. Not to impress other’s with your knowledge but because of what the effort will make of you.

Becoming one who knows God as a friend. Not just because of what it will make of you but because of what He can make of you.

It will take some time but you will find yourself enjoying the smallest victories.  To use an old simile, becoming the master of our will is like climbing a mountain.  As we master each new discipline we see there is always a new vista to explore.  Everyone is looking for happiness and I am convinced that we are happiest when we are progressing toward our potential.  If you are not as happy as you would like to be set a goal or two and get going.

“We must all suffer one of two pains, the pain of discipline or the pain of regret.  The pain of discipline weighs ounces, the pain of regret weighs pounds.” Jim Rohn