108: Self-discipline

Questions about the Video File:

1. How can you simplify self-discipline?
2. How long does it take to form a new habit?
3. What are the three building blocks of habits according to the author of The Power of Habits?  
4. What is the essence of self-discipline?
5. Please explain about keystone habits.
6. Please mention some keystone habits that can revolutionize your life.

Please leave a response to the following question as a comment: 

Please share some techniques you’ve used to solidify your self-disciple with us.

General Questions:

1. How can strengthening your self-discipline help you to become more successful?
2. How can you define self-discipline?
3. Is there any relationship between motivation and self-discipline?
4. What is comfort zone, and how does it influence your self-discipline?
5. Is self-discipline more intrinsically or extrinsically oriented?

Related Quotes:

1. “Respect your efforts, respect yourself. Self-respect leads to self-discipline. When you have both firmly under your belt, that's real power” (Clint Eastwood).
2. “We all have dreams. But in order to make dreams come into reality, it takes an awful lot of determination, dedication, self-discipline, and effort” (Jesse Owens).
3. “I value self-discipline, but creating systems that make it next to impossible to misbehave is more reliable than self-control” (Tim Ferriss).

Related Idioms and Expressions:

1. Blood, sweat and tears: A demanding task that you should do:
   • I knew that the project was such a blood, sweat and tears, but I could successfully handle it, thanks to my self-discipline. 
2. Buckle down: Set out to achieve something with determination and hope:
   • Its bark was a lot worse than its bite. When I buckled down to the formidable task, I realized that it was not that frightening.
3. Explore all avenues: Do whatever necessary to achieve something:
   • Thomas Edison was so determined that he explored all avenues toward the accomplishment of his desires.
4. Go to great lengths/paints: Do your best to accomplish something worthwhile:
   • The Browns went to great lengths to cope with the financial crisis in the family, and their efforts eventually paid off.
5. Hang in there: Persevere in doing something in spite of difficulties:
   • Don’t quit when the going gets tough. Instead, hang in there and do your best.
6. Have your heart set on something: Be really ambitious and obsessed with something:
   • I was having my heart set on that job position, yet when I obtained it, I noticed that it was not the one I was searching for.
7. Make headway: Be determined to make progress in something:
   • I was willing to make any sacrifice to make headway in my rewarding career.
8. Reach for the moon / the stars: Be so decided to do whatever you can to make your dreams come true:
   • His teacher would say that he couldn’t reach for the moon, but it turned out that the teacher was actually wrong.
9. The sky’s the limit: There is literally no limit to the level of your success:
   • Don’t limit your success by comparing yourself to others. Bear in mind that the sky’s the limit.
10. Stick to your guns: Be so firm about your opinions and goals that nobody can change your mind:
    • When he has his heart set on something, he invariably sticks to his mind.

Related Words and Phrases:

1. Determination: Having a lot of willpower to pursue your dreams:
   • Her great determination is technically her secret to success.
2. Resolution: When you promise yourself to do something despite difficulties:
   • I was working on the list of my New Year’s resolutions before Christmas.
3. Duty-bound: Feeling obliged and responsible to do something under any circumstances:
   • I found myself duty-bound to be at the service of my old parents.
4. Self-control: The ability to control your mind and thoughts:
   • The keystone of success and achievement in life is definitely self-control.
5. Willpower: The ability to take any action that is required in order to fulfill your ambitions:
   • Strong willpower helped him to make the impossible possible.
6. Restraint: Noticeable self-control in the face of problems:
   • It took him an abundance of restraint to stay calm and wise in his dysfunctional family.
7. Tenacity: Determination and persistence in doing something difficult until it is done:
   • Her tenacity in carrying out the project effectively is absolutely laudable.
8. Perseverance: The ability to continue doing something, although the going gets rather tough:
   • “Do not give us so soon. Instead, have perseverance. Haven’t you heard that “a winner never quits, and a quitter never wins”?
9. Diligence: The state of being hard-working and industrious:
   • Lack of hope and diligence made my opponent lay an egg in the end.  
10. Decisive: Having a lot of confidence and willpower to make necessary decisions and take necessary actions:
    • A successful and influential leader must have diligence and prudence in order to thrive.