Favorite Inspirational Quotes

Self-discipline begins with the mastery of your thoughts.  If you don’t control what you think, you can’t control what you do.

Napoleon Hill

This is another way of saying that your thoughts create your actions.  To get the actions you want which should lead to the goal you want to achieve, you need to have the right thoughts that create those actions.  Being in control of what you think is a first step in self-discipline according to this quote.

Except for athletes, many of us seem to think that self-discipline is archaic.  I’m lazy with my thoughts like most others.  If I’m not careful, I can allow the books I read and the TV programs, movies, and news shows I watch to control my thoughts and feelings (though admittedly little of the last one as I don’t watch the news very often).  There is usually too much negativity especially in news shows.  That doesn’t do my thoughts or my feelings any good.

I guess this goes to the principle that if I don’t pick my path, actions, thoughts, and beliefs, they will be chosen for me by someone else.  Quite possibly that someone else will not have my best interests in mind.  Even if they do have my good in mind or at least what they have decided is for my good, who says their choices are right for me.  Only I can say that.

This all means I need to do better at self-discipline and choose the thoughts that lead to the actions that create the best situation for me.  If I don’t take control through self-discipline, someone is waiting to control my thoughts.  And that is not quite as Orwellian as it sounds.  Just fact.

This is why it is so important for me to pick and choose wisely what I allow into my space.  I have to carefully choose the shows I watch.  I have to carefully choose the books I read.  I have to carefully choose the actions I take.  I have to carefully choose the people I associate with, especially on a daily basis.  Thank goodness, I work at home.  All those choices are part of self-discipline.  I have the power to choose and I must choose wisely.

Tags: control