0:03 if you want to build self-discipline
0:06 you'd do well to listen to the words of
0:08 Marcus Aurelius he was the emperor of
0:12 Rome from 161 to 180 A.D and is
0:14 considered as the last of the five good
0:17 Emperors during his rule Aurelius found
0:18 the time to construct a series of
0:21 autobiographical writings now known as
0:23 the meditations in these writings the
0:25 Roman Emperor offered a number of key
0:27 insights on how to build self-discipline
0:29 here are 10 of the most important of
0:31 those insights for self-discipline from
0:34 the writings of Marcus Aurelius
0:37 number one self-discipline starts with
0:39 finding your purpose Marcus Aurelius
0:42 says I have to go to work as a human
0:44 being what do I have to complain of if
0:47 I'm going to do what I was born for the
0:48 things I was brought into this world to
0:51 do or is this what I was created for to
0:53 huddle under the blankets and stay warm
0:56 Marcus Aurelius believed that we each
0:58 have a purpose something that we were
1:01 created for it's our duty to carry out
1:03 that purpose because its purpose that
1:05 gets you out of bed each morning if you
1:07 have a clear understanding of your goals
1:08 and how your task fits within them
1:10 you're much more likely to complete
1:13 those goals for example say you have a
1:15 flat tire and need to change it your
1:17 purpose is clear change the tire as
1:19 quickly as possible so you can get on
1:21 your way you're going to do that task no
1:24 matter how tired you feel the biggest
1:26 source of self-discipline is to have a
1:29 reason to do the task if you don't know
1:32 what to do just start if you want to be
1:34 a writer write every day if you want to
1:37 be an artist draw and create every day
1:39 anything you want to do you don't need
1:42 any more motivation or research or
1:44 advice you just start practicing
1:45 something you're interested in and
1:47 Tackle every day as it comes because
1:49 it's your purpose that will give you an
1:52 internal desire drive and motivation to
1:54 propel you forward towards your goal
1:56 self-discipline is about finding
1:58 compelling reasons to do something then
2:00 committing yourself to see that task or
2:03 activity through to the very end
2:06 number two count on yourself
2:08 according to Marcus Aurelius you should
2:11 turn your desire to Stone quench your
2:13 appetites keep your mind centered on
2:16 itself after you have a solid purpose
2:18 it's time now to build a practical plan
2:20 of action to help you accomplish your
2:22 goal you shouldn't just commit to your
2:24 goals but commit to all the little
2:26 actions that you'll take along the way
2:29 in pursuit of those goals we must be
2:30 fully committed to doing whatever it
2:33 takes to get the job done no matter what
2:34 challenges get in the way
2:36 self-discipline is the ability to get
2:39 yourself to take action to do what you
2:41 need to do regardless of your physical
2:43 mental or emotional state
2:45 everything you want in your life
2:48 everything you want to have be and do
2:50 depends on your ability to get yourself
2:52 to take the necessary actions to achieve
2:55 your goals whether you feel like it or not
2:55 not
2:57 you can start with forming an effective
2:59 plan of action that is comprised of a
3:02 deadline for accomplishing your goal it
3:04 must also be built on the foundation of
3:06 many Milestones that break your goal
3:08 down into manageable chunks many
3:10 Milestones will ensure that you're
3:12 working towards your desired outcome in
3:15 small pieces and time blocks this tactic
3:17 puts you in the driver's seat it gives
3:19 you a sense of control over the tasks
3:21 and projects that you're working on what
3:22 you're ultimately trying to avoid is
3:24 succumbing to being overwhelmed
3:26 overwhelming can quickly digress to
3:29 procrastination and procrastination can
3:32 subsequently lead to stagnation and of
3:33 course where their stagnation
3:36 self-discipline cannot exist
3:39 number three show up every day
3:42 Marcus Aurelius says You must build up
3:44 your life action by action and be
3:46 content if each one achieves its goal as
3:49 far as possible and no one can keep you
3:50 from this
3:52 even after having a solid purpose and a
3:56 practical plan 95 of us fail to achieve
3:59 our goals we fail because we fail to be
4:02 consistent we need to show up every day
4:05 and put in the work the simple act of
4:07 showing up and immersing yourself in
4:08 your craft does wonders for mental
4:11 endurance you build focus and come to
4:13 terms with the arduous process that it
4:15 takes to achieve anything great you have
4:17 to put in countless hours of work before
4:19 you reap any of the benefits
4:22 self-discipline is nothing more but the
4:24 habit of consistency finding the
4:25 motivation to do something again and
4:28 again until you do it on autopilot and
4:30 start seeing results so even if you fail
4:32 once for example if you didn't exercise
4:34 when you know you should have this
4:37 doesn't Define your character your
4:39 ability to keep going is what molds you
4:41 into a disciplined and strong person a
4:43 bad day doesn't have to become a bad
4:46 week A bad week doesn't have to become a
4:48 bad year the moment you wake up remember
4:51 that new day is a new new life and move
4:53 forward by opening your eyes and
4:55 focusing on what's in front of you which
4:58 is life itself number four practice
5:00 voluntary hardship
5:02 in the words of Marcus Aurelius we
5:04 should discipline ourselves in small
5:06 things and from there progress to things
5:08 of greater value if you have a headache
5:11 practice not cursing don't curse every
5:12 time you have an earache and I'm not
5:14 saying that you can't complain only
5:16 don't complain with your whole being
5:19 voluntary hardship is one of the ways we
5:21 can build our self-discipline voluntary
5:23 hardship means constantly testing
5:25 ourselves and by making life routinely
5:27 uncomfortable in some way we're
5:29 hardening ourselves for the day we need
5:31 to live it for real a voluntary hardship
5:33 might be skipping a meal and going
5:35 hungry for a night having a cold shower
5:37 not smoking sleeping on the floor
5:39 leaving your jacket at home when you
5:41 know it's cold and raining out or
5:43 donating half of your clothes to charity
5:45 you could choose to go without social
5:47 media for a few days or throw your
5:48 smartphone in the draw do it often
5:51 enough and you begin to understand what
5:53 scarcity and hardship feels like and
5:55 that you can live with both if needed
5:58 number five practice dichotomy of
6:01 control Marcus Aurelius says you have
6:04 power over your mind not outside events
6:07 realize this and you will find strength
6:10 being distressed being bothered by Small
6:12 Things instantly is terrible for
6:14 discipline you have a goal you're
6:16 working and then thoughts and distress
6:18 about something external meaning it out
6:21 of your control derails you the best
6:23 thing you can do in these circumstances
6:25 is to apply epictetus's dichotomy of
6:28 control reinforce to yourself what's
6:30 within your control and what is out of
6:32 your control if you Embrace what's out
6:34 of your control and accept it you'll
6:37 experience Tranquility refer to the
6:38 following wording next time you're
6:41 distressed and distracted do you have a
6:44 problem in your life no then don't worry
6:47 yes can you do something about it yes
6:52 and don't worry no then don't worry
6:55 number six never play the victim
6:58 in the words of Marcus Aurelius do your
6:59 job without whining
7:02 have you said any of these I was just
7:04 born this way I'd never learned anything
7:07 different my parents set a terrible example
7:08 example
7:11 everyone else does it what are these
7:13 excuses that people use to justify
7:15 staying as they are instead of striving
7:18 to become better you need to assume
7:21 responsibility the why me mentality is
7:23 an enemy to mental toughness you might
7:26 not be at fault but your life depends on
7:27 you determining what's within your
7:29 control and taking those things into
7:32 your own hands you must train yourself
7:34 to frame these things this way instead
7:36 of immediately resorting to self-pity
7:38 it's certainly easier to Pawn off blame
7:40 on others when something goes wrong but
7:42 only those with a degree of mental
7:45 fortitude are able to step up even when
7:46 it's not their fault and right the ship
7:49 be that person who steps in to take
7:51 action not the one who looks the other
7:53 way and casts blame when you victimize
7:55 yourself or your current position you
7:57 relinquish control and absolve yourself
8:00 of personal responsibility and without a
8:02 sense of ownership meaningful progress
8:04 becomes an impossible task
8:07 number seven practice delayed
8:09 gratification in the words of Marcus
8:11 Aurelius so you are born to feel nice
8:13 instead of doing things and experiencing
8:16 them don't you see the plants the birds
8:18 the ants and spiders and bees going
8:20 about their individual tasks putting the
8:22 world in order as best they can and
8:24 you're not willing to do your job as a
8:26 human being why aren't you running to do
8:29 what your nature demands delayed
8:31 gratification involves the ability to
8:33 wait to get what you want imagine a
8:34 company Christmas party when you
8:36 encounter platters of delicious and
8:38 tempting food when you're trying to lose
8:40 weight if you give in and fill up your
8:42 plate with fattening goodies it might
8:44 derail your diet but you will get to
8:46 enjoy a bit of instant gratification if
8:48 you manage to resist and spend the
8:49 evening eating salad and munching on
8:51 carrot sticks then you'll presumably
8:53 receive an even greater reward down the
8:55 line shedding those unwanted pounds and
8:57 being able to fit into your favorite
8:59 pair of skinny jeans this ability to
9:01 resist temptation and stick to our goals
9:03 is often referred to as self-discipline
9:05 and delaying gratification is often seen
9:08 as a central part of this Behavior we
9:10 put off what we want now so that we can
9:11 perhaps get something else something
9:13 better later on
9:17 number eight ignore naysayers Marcus
9:19 Aurelius says when another blames you or
9:21 hates you or people voice similar
9:24 criticisms go to their souls penetrate
9:26 inside and see what sort of people they
9:29 are you will realize that there is no
9:31 need to be wrapped with anxiety that
9:32 they should hold any particular opinion
9:33 about you
9:36 whenever you step out from the norm and
9:38 declare even if only to yourself that
9:39 you believe you have a special purpose
9:41 in life and that you're going to do
9:43 whatever it takes to achieve it you will
9:45 attract naysayers naysayers are the
9:47 people who criticize object to or oppose
9:50 something the naysayers just love to say
9:53 nay they might love you but they're
9:55 afraid of progress so they're against
9:57 everything and their opinions are just
9:59 terrible for your self-discipline you
10:00 need to realize that allowing yourself
10:02 to be upset by the opinion of someone
10:04 you don't know or don't respect is as
10:06 foolish as getting upset about the
10:09 weather it's a waste of energy their
10:12 voice does not deserve to be heard don't
10:13 hand over your peace of mind to
10:16 Outsiders to disrupt as they please you
10:18 should actively seek honest feedback
10:20 from those you respect but if someone
10:22 just has a history of being a naysayer
10:26 ignore them number nine find wise people
10:27 to emulate
10:30 Marcus Aurelius says it'll even do to
10:32 socialize with men of good character in
10:34 order to model your life on theirs
10:36 whether you choose someone living or
10:38 someone from the past it's time now to
10:40 look outward for answers to help
10:41 strengthen your self-discipline
10:44 specifically let's identify Role Models
10:46 Your Role Model could be your friends
10:48 family or colleagues who've already
10:50 achieved a goal you're working towards
10:53 ask yourself who's doing this right now
10:56 who's successfully achieved this goal
10:58 who has successfully mastered this habit
11:01 who has successfully made this change
11:03 who has the necessary self-discipline in
11:06 this area and what can I learn from this
11:07 person that can help me along my journey
11:10 take time to ask these people how they
11:13 disciplined themselves ask them how they
11:15 followed through with specific actions
11:17 that got them their desired outcome then
11:19 use their experience to help you
11:21 discipline yourself along your own
11:23 personal Journey
11:27 number 10 honestly review your day in
11:29 the words of Marcus Aurelius these are
11:31 the characteristics of the rational Soul
11:34 self-awareness self-examination and
11:37 self-determination it reaps its own
11:40 Harvest it succeeds in its own purpose
11:42 one of the best ways to become more
11:43 disciplined is to scrutinize yourself
11:46 and find your weak spots be brutally
11:48 honest and use this time to connect with
11:50 your subconscious practicing evening
11:53 retrospections on a consistent basis
11:55 will allow you to become more self-aware
11:57 through every step of your day because
11:58 you will be actively gathering
12:00 information to formulate and articulate
12:02 constructive answers to these questions
12:05 ask yourself what did I do well today
12:06 where were my discipline and
12:08 self-control tested where did I do good
12:12 what did I do bad why did this occur and
12:14 furthermore how can I improve now you
12:16 know how you can improve tomorrow but
12:19 don't beat yourself up be like Seneca
12:21 and forgive yourself have some
12:23 self-compassion research shows that it's
12:25 forgiving yourself not beating yourself
12:27 up that prevents you from continuing to
12:29 put things off and don't just be
12:31 critical of yourself think about what
12:33 you did well so you can repeat it
12:35 tomorrow be grateful for the good that
12:37 happened today
12:39 if you like this video please do make
12:41 sure to check out our stoicism playlist
12:43 and for more videos to help you find
12:45 success and happiness don't forget to
