Editing Discipline (section)

=== Habits ===
A life-changing habit enhances [[health]], [[working life]], and [[quality of life]]. Habits are established in three stages:<ref>{{cite web |last1=Bartlett |first1=Ryan |title=Self Discipline—The biggest lie ever told |url=https://www.visionpersonaltraining.com/expert-hub/expert-articles/weight-loss/self-discipline-the-biggest-lie-ever-told |website=visionpersonaltraining |date=2 February 2017 |access-date=15 September 2021}}</ref>

# Trigger (the thing that initiates the behavior)
# Behavior (the action one takes)
# Reward (the benefit one gains from doing the behavior)

To effectively utilize this three-step process, it is essential to recognize emotional triggers and maintain a consistent reward. Identifying one's emotional responses helps pinpoint behavioral patterns that prompt learned routines and outcomes. These patterns might hinder goal achievement. Transforming these responses involves finding alternative ways to fulfill emotional needs and adopting preferred behaviors. Discovering the required emotional state requires effort, as does establishing new, healthier habits that satisfy one's needs.

There are connections between motivation, self-discipline, and habits:<ref>{{cite news |last1=Gene |first1=David |title=The Synergy of Motivation, Discipline, and Habits |url=https://healthfitnessandmore.net/the-synergy-of-motivation-discipline-and-habits/ |website=healthfitnessandmore |date=24 December 2018 |access-date=27 September 2021}}</ref>
<blockquote>Motivation is the initial emotional drive or inspiration to help one develop one's goals and actions.
When motivation begins to waver, it is a self-discipline that makes one continue despite one's emotions and thoughts.

Over time, self-discipline diminishes as one's behaviors and actions become habits.{{cn|date=July 2023}}</blockquote>

It takes two months for a new habit to form, according to research by Phillippa Lally and colleagues.<ref>{{multiref2
|1={{cite web |last1=Clear |first1=James |title=How Long Does it Take to Form a New Habit? (Backed by Science) |url=https://jamesclear.com/new-habit |website=jamesclear |date=6 March 2014 |access-date=13 September 2021}}
|2={{cite journal | last1=Lally | first1=Phillippa | last2=van Jaarsveld | first2=Cornelia H. M. | last3=Potts | first3=Henry W. W. | last4=Wardle | first4=Jane | title=How are habits formed: Modelling habit formation in the real world | journal=European Journal of Social Psychology | publisher=Wiley | volume=40 | issue=6 | date=16 July 2009 | issn=0046-2772 | doi=10.1002/ejsp.674 | pages=998–1009| hdl=10400.12/3364 | s2cid=15466675 | hdl-access=free}} }}</ref> Making a mistake has no measurable impact on any long-term habits.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Clear |first1=James |title=How to Change Your Beliefs and Stick to Your Goals for Good |url=https://medium.com/the-blog-of-james-clear/how-to-change-your-beliefs-and-stick-to-your-goals-for-good-20deeb030667 |website=JamesClear.com |access-date=23 January 2024 |language=en |date=7 November 2014}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Clear |first=James |date=2014-03-06 |title=How Long Does it Actually Take to Form a New Habit? (Backed by Science) |url=https://jamesclear.com/new-habit#:~:text=Making%20a%20mistake%20once%20or,getting%20back%20on%20track%20quickly. |access-date=2024-11-30 |website=James Clear |language=en-US}}</ref> Habit-making is a process and not an event.

When one is developing habits to overcome impulses that represent easy paths to short-term gratification, they need control over their mind.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Wojcik |first1=Chris |title=This Single Habit Took My Discipline to the Next Level |url=https://medium.com/mind-cafe/this-single-habit-took-my-discipline-to-the-next-level-61cf02785f1c |website=Medium |date=14 September 2021 |access-date=15 September 2021}}</ref> Gaining control over one's minds, and taking a proactive approach, enables them to navigate challenges without becoming overly fixated on failure, financial strains, or [[anxiety]]. Mental anxiety, in particular, can contribute to heightened sensitivity to our surroundings, possibly leading to unnecessary alarmism.<ref name="auto5">{{cite web |last1=Brett, Kate |first1=McKay |title=The 7 Habits: Be Proactive, Not Reactive |url=https://www.artofmanliness.com/articles/7-habits-proactive-not-reactive/ |website=artofmanliness |date=18 April 2021 |access-date=15 September 2021}}</ref> Chronic stress can be detrimental to the development of the executive function, and may make us perceive problems where they do not exist, as outnumbering the solutions, according to Hauser-Cram Heyman.<ref name="auto5"/><ref>{{cite journal | last1=Heyman | first1=M. | last2=Hauser-Cram | first2=P. | title=Negative life events predict performance on an executive function task in young adults with developmental disabilities | journal=Journal of Intellectual Disability Research | publisher=Wiley | volume=59 | issue=8 | date=6 January 2015 | issn=0964-2633 | doi=10.1111/jir.12181 | pages=746–754| pmid=25559271 }}</ref>

Brett McKay recommends to focus on one's circle of influence—what one can control—rather than one's own sphere of concern, which encompasses things beyond one's control. Self-discipline can be as straightforward as tackling a challenging task before bedtime or during other moments of the day; it is about carving out a portion of one's day to cultivate self-discipline.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Wojcik |first1=Chris |title=This Single Habit Took My Discipline to the Next Level |url=https://chrismwojcik.substack.com/p/this-single-habit-took-my-discipline |website=ChrisMWojcik Substack |date=17 September 2021 |access-date=20 September 2021}}</ref> It involves resisting the temptation of opting for the easiest route (primitive urges) to achieve long-term goals.

A person's actions are a product of one's ability to control themselves, both positively and negatively. Habits are automatic mechanisms that conserve one's willpower energy. About 40% of a person's actions are driven by programmed habits.<ref>{{cite web |title=The World Counts |url=https://www.theworldcounts.com/purpose/psychology-of-habits |website=www.theworldcounts.com |access-date=2 February 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=How we form habits, change existing ones |url=https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/08/140808111931.htm |website=ScienceDaily |access-date=2 February 2024 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Verplanken |first1=Bas |last2=Wood |first2=Wendy |title=Interventions to Break and Create Consumer Habits |journal=Journal of Public Policy & Marketing |date=April 2006 |volume=25 |issue=1 |pages=90–103 |doi=10.1509/jppm.25.1.90}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=MS |first1=Derrick Price |title=The 6-Step Approach for Creating New Habits |url=https://www.ideafit.com/personal-training/habit-based-coaching-finding-the-right-cues-to-reap-rewards/ |website=IDEA Health & Fitness Association |access-date=2 February 2024 |date=9 May 2017}}</ref> The longer one holds to bad habits, the more difficult it is to break free from them.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Stark |first1=Ako |title=How to Discipline Yourself With 10 Habits |url=https://medium.com/@akostark/how-to-discipline-yourself-with-10-habits-c46ad7304319 |website=Medium |date=19 July 2019 |access-date=18 September 2021}}</ref> As one resists temptations, one's desires get stronger.<ref>{{cite web |title=Indistractable by Nir Eya |url=https://semisentient.medium.com/indistractable-by-nir-eyal-cca75ba00f16 |website=SemiSentientSentinel |date=29 August 2021 |access-date=18 September 2021}}</ref>

Choices often involve a trade-off between with short-term pleasure in exchange for long-term pain (immediate gratification) or short-term pain and long-term pleasure (delayed gratification).<ref name="auto3">{{cite web |last1=Davies |first1=Sam Thomas |title=Habits Aren't Enough. You Need Discipline As Well |url=https://thoughtcatalog.com/sam-davies/2015/01/habits-arent-enough-you-need-discipline-as-well/ |website=ThoughtCatalog |date=22 January 2015 |access-date=21 September 2021}}</ref> Discipline entails executing habits precisely as intended, enhancing the likelihood of accomplishment and overcoming competing behaviors. Acting promptly exemplifies discipline, while habits are built on preparedness and inclination. This requires a suitable level of buffering against competing behaviors.

There are three ways to learn to build discipline, according to Sam Thomas Davies:<ref name="auto3"/>
* self-assessment
: Determine the underlying reason for requiring discipline. Address resistance by identifying its source and counteracting it through commitment instead of making excuses or yielding to peer pressure.
* self-awareness
: Learn why oneself does not break their habits, mostly due to a lack of awareness about the ease of succumbing to impulses rather than staying committed. A remedy is to eliminate any distractions.
* self-celebration
: Celebrate and reward daily accomplishments, even if one fails to live up to one's expectations. Each outcome provides an opportunity for learning and growth.

There are two types of goals: active and passive.<ref>{{cite web |title=Five Keystone Habits to Help you achieve anything in your life |url=https://www.wanderlustworker.com/five-keystone-habits-to-help-you-achieve-anything-in-your-life/ |website=wanderlustworker |date=27 October 2014 |access-date=27 September 2021}}</ref> Passive goals are ideas, while active goals are concrete plans with specific measures and steps. This includes setting long-term objectives and planning daily tasks. Creating active goals provides direction and helps prevent distractions by outlining precisely what needs to be done.