Self-Discipline and Self-Love
We all have self-discipline. In one or many areas of our lives we have a certain level of “stick-to-it-ness” and refuse to abandon our commitment at all costs. Many have this level of self-motivation to read each day, others to meditate, some to exercise, and there are those that carry this dedication into their chosen field of work. Even addicts have self-discipline towards their chosen addiction. It is a human trait we all share and one that should be used wisely, for where our attention goes, our energy and action flows. However, it is human nature to notice there may be an area that could use more of our commitment and attention. There is also that area that takes just a bit more of our effort to accomplish. It is that area where if we could only use a touch more of our “stick-to-it-ness” we would be that much more fulfilled in life. This plight highlights the importance of how we use our energy and how we direct our awareness of self.
The art of being human is understanding the art of picking and choosing. Swiss philosopher and poet Henri-Frédéric Amiel once said,
“Dare to be what you are,
and learn to resign with a good grace all that you are not.”
Self-discipline comes from knowing the wisdom of your heart. It comes from honoring that still small voice within that gives you a spark of direction and the gumption needed for a task well done. It is the result of loving yourself enough to convert your intuition into useful wisdom, committing to that which serves your divine purpose and releasing that which is better left aside, perhaps for another day.
Trevor Noah of The Daily Show is one of the hardest working comedians. When he first arrived in New York, he would do gigs in the city Thursday thru Saturday and then from Sunday to Tuesday he would fly to London to do more shows. Currently, he anchors The Daily Show Monday thru Thursday and on the weekends he travels across the country doing stand-up, even performing more than once a night if a show sells out. In 2015, Trevor was a guest on Jerry Seinfeld’s show Comedians In Cars Getting Coffee and was asked about his daily routine. Even after obtaining the coveted position as anchor of The Daily Show, he maintained self-discipline in honing his craft. His daily routine is the following (If you would like to see the actual interview start at 8:09 on video below):
6:00 p.m. Wake up, read the news, and shower.
7:00 – 8:30 p.m. Films The Daily Show
8:30 p.m. Breakfast
After Breakfast: Heads to The Comedy Cellar to do some spots, then to another club to do more, then back to The Comedy Cellar again, Dinner, more spots, then networks and talks with other comedians.
3:00 a.m. Does some shopping and heads back home.
10:00 – 11:00 a.m. Go to bed
https://vimeo.com/132475524#t=643s
His schedule goes to show that self-discipline can happen at any hour and as you can see from his interview, or even his current stand up, this man is not drained by the hours he gives but rather is energized by it. His drive is fueled by the love of his craft. From South Africa to America, he has flown upon the laughter of his own heart. His ability to respect and honor his love, a.k.a self-love, for comedy, creates his personal self-discipline.
It is not to say that there are days that are not hard. In another episode of Comedians In Cars Getting Coffee, Jerry Seinfeld interviews Tonight Show host Jimmy Fallon, where both share in a candid moment, admitting that there are days when they feel, “they just can’t do it.” Days where they feel they are not funny, not good enough, and when they feel they are not the person the crowd believes them to be. But both agree that when the curtain draws they know they are in the right place and exactly where they are meant to be. Often the way through such a moment, where we need just that little bit of stick-to-it-ness, is the art of self-discipline in self-love.
If love is always the answer, then self-love would surely be a remedy for those moments when you feel you just can’t do it: for when you think you could never accomplish a certain goal or dream: for when you think you cannot commit to even one step further on the journey. Even when one decides that a task is better served to another day or another time period of her life, it is still with self-love that we can respect and honor what our heart is telling us so that our self-discipline can be as joyful as that of Trevor Noah’s.
Self-discipline means that you are a disciple of your own self. You listen intently to your heart and flow with its beat, undeterred and determined. You actively fall in love with yourself so much that you can’t help but act on your own behalf in each moment, for you are both the disciple and the discipline. Doing what you love is a gift to self and knowing what you love is a discipline in the art of your own divine wisdom. This is how we can wisely use our common human trait, to not only better ourselves but also better the world. Namaste.