"Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise."
—Benjamin Franklin
Self-discipline is crucial to SAL success and Existential Growth; it's also one of the most difficult skills for most people to master. As Thomas Huxley once wrote:
"The most valuable result of all education is to make you do the thing you have to do, when it ought to be done, whether you like it or not. It is the first lesson that ought to be learned. And however early a [person's] training begins, it is probably the last lesson that he [or she] learns thoroughly." (1)
Whether it is getting up in the morning, being punctual, meeting deadlines, keeping up with your exercise and nutrition, following through with your commitments, or making good on your promises, self-discipline is an absolute prerequisite for success, Existential Growth, and inner peace.
When you reflect back on the most time-consuming and meaningful achievements and relationships in your career and life, you doubtless exercised a lot of self-discipline in realizing those objectives. No matter who you are, nothing of lasting significance can be achieved without self-discipline.
If you desire higher levels of Existential Growth, YOU must become increasingly self-disciplined along the way. This includes efficiently and effectively managing your schedule and time, your dress and grooming, your work habits, your down-time, your sleep, your fitness and nutrition, and perhaps most importantly—your emotions, associations, and communication skills and etiquette.
One of my favorite poems provides me with a continual reminder of the importance of exercising self-discipline and inner strength in my life.
Be Strong
Be strong!
We are not here to play, to dream, to drift.
We have hard work to do, and loads to lift.
Shun not the struggle; face it. 'Tis God's gift.
Be strong!
Say not the days are evil,—whose to blame?
And fold the hands and acquiesce—O shame!
Stand up, speak out, and bravely, in God's name.
Be strong!
It matters not how deep entrenched the wrong,
How hard the battle goes, the day, how long.
Faint not, fight on! To-morrow comes the song. (2)
—Maltbie Davenport Babcock
Self-Denial
Self-denial is an important component of self-discipline.
In the sage prose of the great English poet, Alfred, Lord Tennyson: the happiness of a man in this life does not consist in the absence, but in the mastery, of his passions.
"The happiness of a person in this life does not consist in the absence,
[or overindulgence], but in the mastery of one's passions."
—Alfred Tennyson
Self-action leaders are neither ascetic nor hermetic; their continual aim is balance and moderation.
However, there are times and/or seasons in everyone's life when complete self-denial is appropriate for a specific purpose and period of time.
If you always give in to every natural feeling or urge, you will lose your battle with Existential Gravity. Unbridled self-indulgence leads to a destructive hedonism, which spawns diffidence and low self-worth. It may also lead to addiction and other health problems. In extreme cases, it may even lead to criminal activity, incarceration, or premature death.
There are many different ways to practice SELF-DENIAL.
Two (2) practices that have produced enormous benefits in my life are CHASTITY and FASTING.
Chastity is abstinence from sexual activity before marriage and complete fidelity to one's spouse after marriage.
CHASTITY
Abstinence from sexual activity before marriage and
complete fidelity to one's spouse after marriage.
Upholding such a high standard of sexual behavior can be challenging—especially in our 21st century culture, which not only condones, but glamorizes sexual concupiscence and promiscuity—but always remember that difficult is not synonymous with impossible.
As a human being, YOU are capable of doing hard things.
Living a chaste life has enabled me to prevent unplanned pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases. It has also kept me safe from avoidable mental, emotional, and spiritual baggage in both my premarital dating relationships and my marriage. Moreover, it has made the intimacy I enjoy with my wife precious, special, and superlatively singular because I have never had any other sexual partners. It has also strengthened the love and trust that we share. Lastly, I have proved to myself that I can overcome lust and temptation to always be true to my wife, come what may.
Simply stated, chaste living leads to confident, happy, successful, and drama-free living.
Fasting is defined as abstaining from food and/or water and other beverages for a period of time.
FASTING
Abstaining from food and/or water and other beverages for a period of time.
I practice two (2) different types of fasting: INTERMITTENT fasting and RELIGIOUS fasting.
I practice intermittent fasting for health reasons and to manage my weight. Most of my intermittent fasting involves abstaining from food (only) for one or two consecutive meals. Once-in-a-while, I will fast from food (only) for longer periods of time (up to five consecutive meals).
I practice religious fasting for spiritual reasons, including to help others (or myself) with specific needs or desires. For me, religious fasting involves abstaining from food and water for two (2) consecutive meals and incorporates prayer and a charitable financial donation to my church that goes to help those in need of temporary assistance.
Aside from the well-documented physical benefits—and anecdotal spiritual benefits—of fasting, I have discovered further that fasting bolsters my self-confidence and builds my self-esteem. It is one way in which I show my body who is boss.
It reinforces the belief I have that I can control my physical appetites and urges—that I don't have to be a slave to my body—despite the powerful influences they regularly wield upon me.
Despite my successes in these aspects of self-denial, I am still far from perfect. Indeed, I still struggle with many elements of self-denial and self-discipline in my own life. In fact, I fall short in one area or another every single day of my life. Moderating my consumption of food and liquids is particularly challenging for me.
I don't smoke anything and I abstain completely from alcoholic beverages.
But I eat too much sugar, fast food, and soda.
In making this confession, I do NOT wish to insinuate that YOU, I, or anyone else should abstain completely from eating sweets, treats, soda, or fast food. I am merely advocating for balance, moderation, and overall good health practices.
Self-discipline is an ongoing battle for even the most self-controlled and valiant-spirited among us. Nevertheless, the importance and value of self-discipline and self-denial is clear and indisputable.
I always benefit from any and every exercise of self-discipline and self-denial.
And I always suffer the consequences—eventually, in one way or another—of failing to do so.
Though I'm not perfect by any measure, I have had enough success in this area to gain a burning conviction of a GREAT TRUTH: self-discipline, self-denial, and obedience to True Principles rooted in Universal Laws doesn't lead to a life of bondage as many voices throughout the world audibly suggest.
In reality, the exact opposite is true: self-discipline is the only road to Existential Growth and FREEDOM. As Benjamin Franklin so aptly put it: deny yourself, for your own sake!
"Deny self, for self's sake."
—Benjamin Franklin
EXERCISE #22
Complete at least TWO (2) of the following four (4) exercises:
1. For a full month (30 consecutive days), discipline yourself to wake up at 6:30 a.m. (or earlier) and spend one full hour reading, writing, pondering, meditating, memorizing, praying, walking, or a combination of these activities before you go to school, work, or do any other activities. Do NOT use any technology during this time unless you are using an electronic device for reading or writing (typing) purposes.
Day 1:_____ Day 2:_____ Day 3:_____ Day 4:_____ Day 5:_____ Day 6:_____
Day 7:_____ Day 8:_____ Day 9:_____ Day 10:_____ Day 11:_____ Day 12:_____
Day 13:_____ Day 14:_____ Day 15:_____ Day 16:_____ Day 17:_____ Day 18:_____
Day 19:_____ Day 20:_____ Day 12:_____ Day 22:_____ Day 23:_____ Day 24:_____
Day 25:_____ Day 26:_____ Day 27:_____ Day 28:_____ Day 29:_____ Day 30:_____
2. Fast from food for two consecutive meals (20 hours minimum) once a week for FIVE (5) consecutive weeks (minimum requirement). If you are feeling extra ambitious, abstain from food and water for 24 hours once a week for five consecutive weeks.
Week 1 Fast:_____ Week 2 Fast:_____ Week 3 Fast:_____ Week 4 Fast:_____ Week 5 Fast:_____
3. In a ONE month (30-day) period, physically work out for 60-minutes on 25 different days. Include elements of strength, cardio, and stretching exercises into your workout routine.
Day 1:_____ Day 2:_____ Day 3:_____ Day 4:_____ Day 5:_____
Day 6:_____ Day 7:_____ Day 8:_____ Day 9:_____ Day 10:_____
Day 11:_____ Day 12:_____ Day 13:_____ Day 14:_____ Day 15:_____
Day 16:_____ Day 17:_____ Day 18:_____ Day 19:_____ Day 20:_____
Day 21:_____ Day 22:_____ Day 23:_____ Day 24:_____ Day 25:_____
4. Sign the CHASTITY Pledge below and then demonstrate integrity to your pledge for at least six (6) months in order to complete the SAL Master Challenge.
I hereby commit to refrain from sexual activity prior to marriage.
I further commit to upholding complete sexual fidelity to my spouse after marriage.
___________________________________________
Print Name
___________________________________________
Signature
_______________________
Date
I have completed the SAL Master Challenge EXERCISE #22
Your initials:__________ AP initials:__________
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