A Little Discipline Goes a Long Way

If there is anything that I've learned in my life, it's that utilizing just a small amount of discipline will allot you with a good amount of worry-free time on your hands. I remember when I used to be so lazy -- back in high school -- that I would leave old plastic wrappers and containers laying around, my dishes would sit out dirty for days, I would even keep piling garbage in bags that were way too full; which would often lead to it falling on the ground, then me having to pick it right back up and try again.

Luckily, I had a mother who was very, very clean. She is so clean, in fact, that she has single-handedly set the bar for the level of cleanliness I desire in my surroundings. This cleanliness is so important to me that I even actively look for that in a wife. A tough goal indeed, especially when one considers that many young women are incapable of meeting even the lowliest of homemaking standards.

Interestingly enough, ever since I left home I have found that other men, both my age and older, continue to do those things which I learned not to do long ago. These men often embody laziness in both demeanor and stature. A sad way to live, indeed. All men are endowed with the ability to get great things done. But, to get small things done in the trivial moments of our daily lives is the true test of a well disciplined man. A good way to start is to make yourself uncomfortable at least once every day.

Such purposeful discomfort could be taking the garbage out instead of piling it on, getting your workout done, not playing video games today, ignoring social media, making a meal instead of eating out, paying those bills today instead of tomorrow, cleaning your dishes right away, doing your school work now, cleaning your house, car, room, etc. These are just a few simple examples, and your own discomforts could be anything you find uncomfortable or annoying.

To really improve anything in your life, you must first suffer. Suffer through failure, shame, ridicule, or pain; whatever it is, any suffering can be channeled into a blessing. For imperfect mankind, imperfections can lead to near-perfections.