Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Discipline

My dictionary gives several definitions for the word - DISCIPLINE

1. Punishment
2. Training that corrects, molds, or perfects the mental faculties or moral character
3. Control gained by enforcing obedience or order
4. Self-Control
5. A rule or system of rules governing conduct or activity.

The reason I've been thinking about this word is because I've been disciplining myself to get up every morning at 5:00 a.m. for the last two years - so I can practice yoga every day at 6:00 a.m. (NOTE: Sunday's are at 8:30 a.m.).

Every morning, as I drive up to the studio at 5:40 a.m. I think to myself the same thoughts..."I need to stop doing this every day thing. Maybe I can do just every OTHER day."

Yes! It feels like PUNISHMENT - the first definition. 6:00 a.m. Yoga is HARD to get to - hard to get started - hard to think about. But then, the practice starts, and by 6:20, 6:30, 6:40 - something starts to happen. I start to feel GOOD that I made it there.

I start to feel the "training that corrects, molds and perfects the mental faculties..."
I start to feel the " control gained by enforcing obedience..."

I start to feel - GOOD!

And then 7:15 a.m. comes and I'm done with the practice. I change my clothes, get a cup of coffee, and drive to work. I feel the benefits of discipline. I'm stronger. I have peace of mind. I'm prepared for what life will throw at me that day.

But then the next morning comes - and I don't want to do it. But I do it anyway.

Discipline.