Let’s look at the life of one of the most inspiring figures in history, Abraham Lincoln. He was born into a log cabin on the outskirts of Kentucky and was raised with a poor family that had little to no formal education. Moreover, Lincoln lost his mother at the age of nine. To add to this tragedy, he faced multiple business setbacks, losses in elections, and persistent personal losses. What gives hope to humanity in Lincoln’s story is his self-taught discipline and persistence. He went through relentless workloads, including physically laborious jobs, but managed to read borrowed books during his free time, some by candlelight. Throughout his life, Lincoln faced repeated failures, and rather than drawing from them, he embraced them. Rather than letting himself sink into despair, he used each setback as a stepping stone.
During this entire gruelling journey, Lincoln maintained firm control over his emotions, thoughts, and even time. In simple terms, Lincoln strived to serve his nation, fight for justice, and kept the end goal in sight at all times. After so much hard work, he became the United States of America’s 16th president. What stands out the most during this time is the amount of stress placed on the nation, yet Lincoln openly embraced the burden and led the US through the Civil War while also abolishing slavery.
His life teaches us that alone, talent does very little. What truly matters is how consistently and how much focus is placed on achieving set goals, because getting to the end is truly creating your legacy and winning in life.
Then picture a young person who spends four or five precious years of youth and considerable amounts of money obtaining a degree, then finds themself failing to meet their objectives. That kind of student, at some point within their schooling career, is lost and aimless. Even when the idea of working hard does enter their minds, they cannot figure out how to remain energised in the long run. They get caught in a loop of fleeting inspiration and perpetual befuddlement. The source remedy to all of these issues can be distilled into one word: discipline. Discussed at its widest possible application, discipline is the habit of conditioning oneself to behave by dictates or a code of conduct, working off self-control as a basis. It has nothing whatsoever to do with obeying orders or sticking to grim rituals. Instead, it is a state of mind, an individual orientation that controls one’s habits, actions, and approach to duties. But what constitutes discipline for a college or university student? Why is it essential? And most importantly, how to implement it efficiently in life?
Discipline is extremely essential because it makes our short-term motivation work habits over time, becoming part of our character in the long run. A few students lose interest after a couple of days of trying, and this is primarily because of a lack of discipline. It makes us ready to encounter all sorts of situations, improves our resilience, and keeps us firm in our resolve. Success and failures are a part of life, and only discipline allows us to bear them and remain firm on our path to success. Discipline makes us productive human beings since it directs our energy away from wasteful activities and towards productive and necessary tasks.
Society is made up of people, so each individual’s input counts towards progress. They should start by determining what the aim of their life is and adopting a personal slogan, such as “There is no shortcut to success.” Read it daily in the morning, because without a definite target or destination, one cannot instill discipline in life. That will be your long-term objective—for instance, becoming a doctor or an engineer. It should be a habit to study something new each day pertaining to your goal. Your short-term objectives—quizzes, assignments, presentations, and exams—matter just as much. They instill in you punctuality and condition your brain by way of brainstorming, inculcating in you a culture of studying and research. Don’t consider these scholarly chores as a burden, but as a responsibility. Secondly, pay attention to your environment and keep away from whatever unnecessarily hampers your advancement. Be around individuals who drive you towards your aspirations, not around those who ridicule your dreams.
Always keep in mind that what we hear, see, and say every day becomes part of our subconscious identity. As they say, “Repeat something often enough and it will start to feel like the truth.” Just as a seed can grow in soil—never in cement—your skills also require an ideal environment to grow. So select a positive environment that can foster your potential. Listen to a podcast every weekend as a habit. This way, you will learn the mindset and habits of those who have successfully achieved goals like yours. Even while learning, note what you are wearing. A clean and decent appearance not only gives you confidence but also keeps you engaged in your purpose. It keeps you away from distractions and from individuals who distract you from your course. Formal dressing significantly contributes to the formation of your personality.
Set a daily schedule of achievable goals. It is advisable to put them in writing. Create small goals and reward yourself when you reach them. Develop the culture of holding yourself accountable so that you may not deviate from your mission. Each new day comes with new hope. As they say, “Discipline and habits are the silent architects of our future. Every tiny thing counts and everything is made up of small things.” So start your journey with hope and discipline to achieve your dreams.
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The views and opinions expressed in this article/paper are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the editorial position of Paradigm Shift.
He is currently pursuing his BS English (hons) at the University of the Punjab, Jhelum campus.