IJCH - Inside JaiChai's Head (Meaning: My Warped, Personal Opinions and Musings)
From the Author:
Salutations.
I am JaiChai.
And if I haven't had the pleasure of meeting you before, I'm delighted to make your acquaintance now.
I invite you to interact with everyone, learn, and have as much fun as possible!
For my returning online friends, "It's always great to see you again!"
The Awesomeness of Discipline
I woke up this morning and started my normal routine.
After coffee and an inspection of my mushroom grow bags and grain spawn, I did my morning workout (one hour of cardio plus 45 min. of weight training - all the while listening to my current audiobook).
Next, I reviewed my daily game plan.
Thanks to the teachings of Jim Rohn, I learned long ago that it's a very smart move to never start the productive part of your day, week, month or year without finishing it first in your head.
With the day's mission firmly set in my mind, I picked up my phone, fired up my computer, and accessed my email.
Overnight, I had received multiple unanswered phone calls, texts, and email messages.
Reading them, it struck me that almost all of the problems that my friends, family, and clients were faced with stemmed from not understanding (or consciously denying) the awesomeness of discipline.
Discipline is a choice.
It is totally under each individual's control. It is not subject to externalities that can't be controlled by anyone - no matter how wealthy or politically powerful that person may be.
Doesn't it rain just as much on rich peoples' houses as it does on poor peoples' shacks?
Time is equally neutral. There's only 24 hours in a day, no more, no less - for everyone.
No one can "make time" to do something. You either choose to do something or you don't, but believing you can "create time" to do it is delusional.
Unbeknownst to most, everyone has the choice to cultivate discipline - or not.
But think of this.
Not choosing is, by default, a choice made for you by someone else; relegating yourself to accepting whatever crumbs are leftover when everyone else has chosen.
It's so simple that it's "Marine Proof".
Discipline or regret? It's your choice.
I like to think of discipline as preparation for a better future self; and hence, a better life. In other words, discipline stacks the odds of a more secure tomorrow in your favor.
Discipline is empowering. You feel more in control, less bullied by others or victimized by a system, culture, or institution, etc.
Life is Simple, but NOT Easy!
My father was my first mentor.
Unfortunately, like most people, it took many years in the school of hard knocks to realize the wisdom of his advice.
It's like what Mark Twain said about his father:
"When I was a boy of fourteen, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be twenty-one, I was astonished at how much he had learned in seven years."--Mark Twain.
Anyway, my father kept saying:
"In so many ways, life is simple, but not easy."
If you want to be rich, don't spend all your money. First save, then invest (a la "The Richest Man in Babylon").
If you want to be slim, don't eat too many calories (albeit, those calories should be nutritious; otherwise you become "skinny fat").
If you want to be fit, you must exercise, not sporadically, but consistently.
If you want to be smarter, you must learn through reading, listening to audio books, viewing videos - AND then putting the new knowledge into action!
All of these things are glaringly no-brainers.
So why don't people do them?
Because it takes discipline to do them!
The good part about discipline is that it's a skill that can be learned.
Sure, it will suck at first; mainly because it's new and can be quite a shock to your system. And believe me, your mind will rebel.
But with repetition, eventually, it becomes a whole lot easier.
Just take one step, do one task at a time and before you know it, discipline becomes a habit.
Most importantly, discipline strengthens your mind and prepares you for whatever life throws at you.
Stated differently, discipline buys you "psychological health insurance".
Just think of all the cool stuff you can enjoy (sometimes immediately, or if not, certainly in due time) simply by choosing discipline now.
Awesome, no?
I think I've done enough rambling for this post.
So, I will leave you with this to ponder:
Discipline enables you to do what most people can't or won't do today, so you can enjoy what they can't or won't enjoy tomorrow.
Discipline is awesome!
By JaiChai
Really Appreciate You Stopping By.
Truly hope to see you again!
About the Author
Believing that school was too boring, he dropped out of High School early; only to earn an AA, BS and MBA in less than 4 years much later in life – while working full-time as a Navy/Marine Corps Medic.
In spite of a fear of heights and deep water, he performed high altitude, free-fall parachute jumps and hazardous diving ops in deep, open ocean water.
After 24 years of active duty, he retired in Asia.
Since then, he's been a full-time, single papa and actively pursuing his varied passions (Writing, Disruptive Technology, Computer Science and Cryptocurrency - plus more hobbies too boring or bizarre for most folk).
He lives on an island paradise with his teenage daughter, longtime girlfriend and three dogs.