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

—Forrest Gump

 

34

There’s  no  law  stating  that  if  you  want  to  build  self-discipline,  you

need  to  immediately  wake  up  at  four  in  the  morning,  eat  nothing  but

vegetables and fruits, work productively for 12 hours, seven days a week,

and  abstain  from  every  pleasure,  trying  to  mimic  the  life  of  a  medieval

ascetic.

Setting  aside  the  fact  that  most  of  these  habits  are  not  necessary  to

become self-disciplined, self-control isn’t built in one day. You’re building

it step by step — starting from an easy challenge, and then building on top

of it.

Don’t feel anxious or guilty that you begin your exercise plan with a 5-

minute  walk  or  that  you  commence  your  new  nutrition  plan  with  a

resolution that you’ll add one vegetable and subtract one candy bar a day.

Try it, see what happens, and if it works out, set a bigger challenge. Nothing

else is needed to begin the journey to a new you.

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