Are You Who You Want to Be? - Blog 11: Self Discipline

Always Improving 

I didn't know I was broken 'til I wanted to change. 

I wanna get better, better, better, better. 

- Bleachers, I Wanna Get Better

1. Praying and reading The Bible 
2. Eating well and exercising
3. Using my study time wisely, avoiding distractions
4. Regulating my sleep schedule
5. Balancing work and play 

Listed above are just five areas of my life that I know I need to devote greater discipline to. For the most part, each of these five areas requires the same solution: setting aside specific times to complete each task. By allotting portions of my day to Bible study, exercise, academics, sleep, and relaxation; I can alleviate my stress levels and ensure that each day includes the appropriate amount of "have to, need to, and want to."

Admirable Drive 

With all these things I wait for revolution
These things ask the biggest question to me
And it's are you what you want to be.

- Foster the People, Are You Who You Want to Be

Perhaps the most disciplined person in my life is my aunt. She understands that it's not enough to simply want something to change, you have to work to change it. About a year and a half ago, she began working out, hoping to lose weight that was beginning to cause health problems. Since then, she has lost over 100 pounds. She's healthier now, and much happier too. She now knows that with discipline and determination, she is capable of anything. 

Accountability Matters

And every day that you want to waste, 

that you want to waste, you can
And every day that you want to wake up, 

and you want to wake, you can

- Foster the People, Waste

If we were the only people affected by our actions, we could choose to spend our days however we wished. However, the truth is that others depend on us, holding us accountable to our words and deeds. I am accountable for my words and choices, and I'm held accountable not only by myself, but also by those I represent. I am also accountable for my grades, which are monitored by my professors and the university. My boss holds me accountable for my performance at work, and my roommate for the cleanliness of my space. Ultimately, we're all accountable for many different aspects of our lives, and should take responsibility for them. 

Every Journey Needs A Map - Blog 10: Your Mission

Reaching Up

Dream on,

dream until your dreams come true.

- Aerosmith, Dream On

The following is my personal mission statement as developed by www.franklincovey.com/msb. Overall, I agree with the way it turned out. It displays the facets of my personality, and my goals, adequately and accurately. I look forward to being able to apply this to my life, and I hope that it will serve as a guide on the path to attaining my dreams and loving the skies I'm under. 

I am at my best when I am being motivated and encouraged by those around me, especially when there is pressure to perform well.I will try to prevent times when I feel as though my actions don't matter or won't make a significant contribution to the group.
I will enjoy my work by finding employment where I can talk to people; getting to know them and helping them to excel.
I will find enjoyment in my personal life through the pursuit of culture; movies, books, and music.
I will find opportunities to use my natural talents and gifts such as communication and public speaking, mothering, problem solving, empathizing, and organization.
I can do anything I set my mind to. I will revisit major criminal cases that have already gone to trial in pursuit of new, convicting evidence.
My life's journey is shining a light for Christ. He has shown me hope and salvation, and I hope that I can be the path through which others find Him. I may do this on a small scale, for my family and those I work with, but it is still a journey of great importance, as its result is salvation.
I will be a person who is surrounded by my friends and family, looking back on a life I'm proud of. I want them to be able to say that I elicited positive change in their lives and the lives of all I touched.
My most important future contribution to others will be share the love of Christ. Luckily, this can be done in many different ways: through words, teaching, love, and actions.
I will stop procrastinating and start working on:

• Judging others less

• Complaining less

• Discipling myself

I will strive to incorporate the following attributes into my life:

• Strength

• Faith

• Determination

I will constantly renew myself by focusing on the four dimensions of my life:

• Sleep

• Prayer

• Stimulating my mind

• Building relationships