Improving Discipline
“Nobody wants to tell you why discipline is so important. Discipline is the strongest form of self-love. It is ignoring current pleasures for bigger rewards to come. It is loving yourself enough to give yourself everything you’ve ever wanted.” -Deion Sanders
Lack of self-love or lack of self-esteem: too many times it’s just a “give up attitude”, because a person feels overwhelmed by the massive blows of life and circumstances. This is difficult, because no person is lofty enough to hold judgement; nonetheless, this also falls in the negative category. It’s quite clear that none of the aforementioned reasons are positive. This leads me back to a common foe with the underserved communities that we easily see whenever in the area. Lack of discipline is one of the “elephants in the rooms” that no one wants to address publicly. I emphasize publicly, because it is common for the “haves” in society to accuse the “have nots” of not working hard and lacking discipline. Now that’s a difficult situation, a “sticky wicket! Reverse the economic status, and I’m certain many of the “haves” would struggle also with lack of self discipline!
The great historian John Henrik Clarke stated,“To control a people, you must regard their history and culture. And when your conqueror makes you ashamed of your culture and your history, he needs no prison walls and chains to hold you.” What about lacking discipline because of knowledge? Dr. Clarke responds, “Powerful people cannot afford to educate the people that they oppress, because once you are truly educated, you will not ask for power. You will take it.” (Clarke)
It is not fair to just assume that underserved people lack discipline and don’t work hard. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. had an eloquent approach to this “elephant in the room” American paradox. He said,“If you can’t fly then run, if you can’t run then walk, if you can’t walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward.” (King)
Everyone cannot control the circumstances bestowed upon them, but we can choose to respond in a way that keeps us moving forward and seeking better outcomes. Maybe you haven’t been making good life decisions. It certainly doesn’t mean that hope doesn’t exist. Dr. King said to keep moving forward, no matter how hard it may be. Keep trying, whether it is overcoming addiction, racism, or difficult circumstances you were born into. You have the power to choose to keep moving forward. Lean on Oprah Winfrey words: “Doing the best at this moment puts you in the best place for the next moment” ...”Turn your wounds into wisdom!” (Winfrey)
