BLOG05b- SelfDiscipline ACTION
"As quickly as you can, snatch the pebble from my hand"
((swipe & miss))
"When you can take the pebble from my hand, you will have learned."
In case you did not know, that was from the old 70's TV series, "Kung Fu", where young Kwai Chang was being instructed by his master. It speaks to the beginning of a journey, and to the mindset that must be present in everyday life, if one is to be successful at a thing… or even just survive in the world, as it is. That mindset: Action begets Knowledge.
Suppose the young man did not make the attempt as he had been bade to do. For the master, himself, there was not intrinsic benefit gained or lost, but for the young man, to not try would have meant he lost the chance to see where he was, as well as (years later, as the story develops) how far the journey would take him.
So, in our last meeting (here, at my blog..lol), I wrote about appreciation of the journey, and the benefits of being able to see your growth process in that light. Before that, I spoke about being able to deny yourself the immediate benefits, that you might enjoy the results to the full measure of your success(es.) Action is where it all happens. Without the mindset to actually start the journey, and the mindset to persevere thru the many challenges that life will present, what hope is there to actually succeed?
Here's the landscape: Action is the ticket for the ride, Self-Discipline is the track. Success is the T-shirt, and it reads, "YAY! I DID IT!!!" Yes, that is simplified, but it still holds true. With no action, the track is just there before you. Standing & facing a direction, unyieldingly, does not equate to getting into motion, and so it won't get you to the finish. Once you start to activate in a direction, THEN you can actually begin to appreciate and savor the nuances of the trip. You can look at that element as the views and snapshots you see along the ride.
Where the track ends depends upon you. And since it's your goal and success that we are talking about, you have the power to turn the train around, stall it, and even derail it. Your ability to see where you stand helps you in deciding what you are going to do, and how much you are willing to do to reach it.
There is another element of "action" that important, here: When you start an action, you cause a series of things to happen. It's like that proverbial drop of water that starts a river. However small the action may seem, it has such potential that you must weigh it and see it for what it's worth.
My students (and anyone who will listen to me during a martial arts training session) all hear the same thing from me: What practice you do (or do not do) in your own time will always show when next you are in front of me. That's my way of telling them that every little thing (action) you do will have a benefit, to some end. The more actions you do, no matter how small or short-lived, the more likely improvements will begin to show. Tying those actions into a consistent habit or daily action (again, however small) will ensure an end result that dwarfs what would have happened had no action been taken to improve or succeed at something. That "tying" of actions equates to "Self-Discipline."
When you and I are back together, again (my next blog), we will take on another element that will help you to streamline your process of learning self-discipline: Organization
Be Well, Be Better, Be your Best… and feel free to share your comments, and this blog (with your friends!)…
Until the next time...
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