Prof. Msgr. Vladimir Felzmann aka Father Vlad 

still working to help God make this World a better place 

As you know, to be "self-disciplined" means you have the ability to control your own impulses, emotions, and behaviours to achieve a specific goal, even when you don't feel like it or are facing distractions.It involves making a conscious choice to pursue something better for yourself, rather than needing someone else to direct your actions.

It is wise to gain self-discipline. Remember that’ wisdom’ - in Latin ‘sapientia’ comes from ‘sapere’, meaning to enjoy or savour.

To live life to the full, develop your self-control across your PIES.

In P, watch diet to avoid obesity, and drink to avoid liver damage. Walk at least 7,000 steps a day to stay fit. Sleep at least eight hours to minimise risk of dementia.

In I don't waste time reading rubbish. Avoid pornography to keep your mind sharp and your relationship with God close.

Within E, keep close to and be a friend with your friends and allies-in-life.

In your spiritual life come closer than just through TAPS by your phatic conversations with Jesus, the one I call Yesh.

Within me, there is the Higher Vlad  with his ambitions to do God’s will, stay fit and help to heal the world, and the Lower Vlad who prefers a cushy, comfortable life.

The Higher Vlad uses Vlad’s vices  – and his close friendship with Yesh - to keep the Lower Vlad controlled ;most of the time. I use vanity to control my gluttony – and stay in good shape, even at 86. I use my pride to fight my sloth – and lust -  to stay active and decent. 

How about you?

Self-discipline furnishes you with control:The ability to manage your thoughts, feelings, and desires.

It offers you motivation:The capacity to push yourself to act, regardless of your current physical or emotional state.

It enriches you with persistence:The willingness to continue pursuing a goal despite difficulty, temptation, or unfavoured odds.

It enables you  to remain goal-oriented:with the focus on working toward a desired outcome, often involving a conscious choice to improve yourself or your situation.

In essence, self-discipline is a form of self-control that enables you to do what you know you should, even when you don't want to.

Acquiring the virtue of self-control will give you the freedom you need to achieve your dreams.  Remember that virtues are good habits. They are like muscles. Exercise keeps them fit and strong. As with press-ups or full-squats, you can build them up to your desired default number.

I’ll end with a few quotes to jog your mind.

“Day by day, what you choose, what you think, and what you do is who you become.” — Heraclitus (5th century bce), Greek Philosopher.

“Discipline is choosing between what you want now and what you want most.” — Abraham Lincoln(1809-65), 16th president of the United States, serving from 1861 until his assassination in 1865.

“It is better to conquer self than to win a thousand battles.” — Siddhartha Gautama,most commonly referred to asthe Buddha(lit.'the awakened one'),was awandering asceticand religious teacher who lived inSouth Asiaduring the 6th or 5th centuryBCEand foundedBuddhism

“A disciplined mind leads to happiness, and an undisciplined mind leads to suffering.” — 14th Dalai Lama(born 1935), the highest spiritual leader and head of Tibetan Buddhism.

“Rule your mind or it will rule you.” — Quintus Horatius Flaccus( 65 BCE –  8 BCE),commonly known in the English-speaking world asHorace, was the leading Romanlyric poetduring the time ofAugustus(also known as Octavian).

“Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishment.” — Jim Rohn (1930-2009), American entrepreneur, author, and motivational speaker. He wrote numerous books including How to obtain wealth and happiness.

"Some people regard discipline as a chore. For me, it is a kind of order that sets me free to fly." — Julie Andrews (born1935), English actress, singer, and author.

“You have power over your mind, not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.” — Marcus Aurelius (121-180CE), Roman emperor from 161 to 180 and a Stoic philosopher.

“True freedom is impossible without a mind made free by discipline.” — Mortimer J. Adler (1902-2001), American philosopher, educator, encyclopaedist, popular author and lay theologian.

“What lies in our power to do, lies in our power not to do.” — Aristotle (384-322BCE), Greek philosopher and polymath.

"Success is created through the performance of a few small daily disciplines that stack up over time to produce achievements far beyond anything you could of ever planned for. " — Robin Sharma(b.1964), Canadian writer, best known for his The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari book series.

“Self-discipline starts with the mastery of your thoughts. If you don’t control what you think, you can’t control what you do.” — Napoleon Hill (1883-1970), American self-help author. He is best known for his book Think and Grow Rich, which is among the best-selling self-help books of all time.

“Most powerful is he who has himself in his own power.” — Seneca (4BCE-65CE), Stoic philosopher, a statesman, a dramatist, and in one work, a satirist,

"Discipline teaches us the most important virtue of respect. It teaches you to respect your own decision." — Hansaji Yogendra (b 1947), Indian yoga guru, author, researcher and TV personality. She is director of The Yoga Institute in Mumbai.

"It was character that got us out of bed, commitment that moved us into action, and discipline that enabled us to follow through." — Zig Ziglar (1926-2012), American author, salesman, and motivational speaker.

“Mastering others is strength. Mastering yourself is true power.” — Lao Tzu (6th or maybe 4th century BCE), Chinese, generally considered the founder of Taoism.

In life, as in sport, to achieve anything worthwhile, self-discipline is obligatory.

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