365 Days With Self-Discipline: 365 Life-Altering Thoughts on Self-Control, Mental Resilience, and Success

Day 16: On Self-Relianc e

A man then must stand erect, not be kept erect by others.

—Marcus Aurelius

 

15

There’s  no  doubt  that  surrounding  yourself  with  people  who  support

your  goals  is  helpful.  It’s  easier  to  exercise  with  a  friend,  diet  along  with

your spouse, or belong to a community of frugal people.

However, as Marcus Aurelius says, you need to beware of relying too

much on others.

If the only reason why you exercise is because you’re doing it with a

friend, the moment they drop it, you’ll likely revert to the old ways, too.

If you’re on a diet only because you want to lose weight to attract this

beautiful friend of a friend, the moment you learn they’re in a relationship

or aren’t interested in you, your self-control will be gone.

If you’re productive at work only because you’re afraid of your boss,

how likely will you be to exhibit productivity when they aren’t around?

Your motivators should always start with you and your own resolve to

make  changes.  External  support  can  be  valuable,  but  just  like  a  person

recovering from an injury isn’t fully recovered if they can’t stand without a

crutch, you aren’t self-disciplined enough unless you can still stick to your

resolutions even without the help of other people.

---