Self-Discipline

                    

 Chapter 24

Self-Discipline

Construction Stage 3.1   Punctually showing up to the work site

SAL Model Stage 3.1   Self-discipline

"Success is a few simple disciplines 

practiced every day."

*****

"Failure is a few simple disciplines

neglected every day."

—Jim Rohn

Self-discipline is akin to punctually showing up to a construction site sober, well-rested, properly dressed, and fully-equipped to provide a full-day's work with a good attitude. 

Nothing is going to happen if you aren't prepared and committed to work. 

This sounds simple enough in theory. But in actual practice, many people find it challenging. I am one of them. 

For example, I'm not naturally a "Morning Person," and never have been. Sometimes I envy those who are! One of the more difficult SAL exercises I've ever engaged—and I've engaged it about 13,000 times or so to date in my life—is getting up earlier in the morning than I would naturally like. 

Doing so is hard for me.

I'm sure many (if not most) of you reading this right now can relate!

Nevertheless, difficult or not, if I am going to meet my obligations as a husband, father, writer, speaker, teacher, church leader and achieve the goals I have set for myself, my family, my church flock, and Freedom Focused, I have limited choices in the matter. 

I simply have to get up most mornings at an earlier time than I am naturally inclined.

This doesn't mean I don't ever get to sleep in. Rest assured, I welcome—and take advantage of—every chance I get to do that. But the fact is that on most days, I do not have, nor would I even want, such an overrated luxury.

As Benjamin Franklin once pithily put it: He that riseth late must trot all day, and shall scarce overtake his business at night. Franklin further stated: Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise. 

"He that riseth late must trot all day, and shall scarce overtake his business at night."

—Benjamin Franklin

"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)

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 that 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; I don't have to be a slave to my body, despite the powerful influences they regularly wield.  

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.

"Deny self, for self's sake."

—Benjamin Franklin

SAL Master Challenge

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:__________

 

—Dr. JJ

Wednesday, June 11, 2025

Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, USA

Author's Note: This is the 463rd Blog Post Published by Freedom Focused LLC since November 2013 and the 256th consecutive weekly blog published since August 31, 2020.   

Click HERE for a compete listing of the other 462 FF Blog Articles 

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Click HERE for a complete listing of Freedom Focused SAL POEMS   

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.........................

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Chapter 24 Notes

1.  Mandino, O. (1978). The Greatest Secret in the World. New York, NY: Bantam Books. Page vii. 

2.  Babcock, M.D. (1901). Thoughts for Every-day Living: From the Spoken and Written Words of Maltbie Davenport Babcock. Google Books version. New York, NY: Charles Scribner's Sons. Page 168. 

A Class in Life

Imagine for a second that it is the year 2030.

One of your children (or grandchildren) is about to begin middle or high school.  After she has completed registering for her classes, you survey your daughter's (or son's) academic course load for the upcoming school year, and it looks something like this...

1st Period:  Algebra
2nd Period: English
3rd period:  Biology
4th period:  Technology & computing
5th period:  Art
6th Period:  Physical education
7th Period:  Life LCLS 101

As you review the schedule, you notice that the first six classes resemble your own prep school schedule back in the 80s, 90s, or early 2000s.  But then you get to seventh period and are a little confused.  So you ask your child, "What the heck is Life LCLS 101?"

Without thinking, your child blurts out, "Oh, that's just life class; it's where we study leadership, character, and life-skills; you know, the stuff we need to know to be successful in REAL life. Everyone is required to take at least one life course every semester; it's required for graduation. Our principal and teachers are always telling us it's the most important class we attend each day."

"Oh," you reply.  "Cool."  Pause...

"I wish they had had that when I was a student."

Purveyors of Education in
Leadership, Character, & Life Skills

If Freedom Focused has anything to say about it, this mostly theoretical scenario in today's educational world will be standard operating procedure for an increasing number of elementary, middle, and high schools—as well as colleges and universities—by the 2030s.  

How will it happen?  Slowly.  Gradually.  Incrementally, but surely.  Freedom Focused exists for the express purpose to ensure that it does.  

As the Founder and CEO of Freedom Focused, I have always envisioned our organization as being something akin to a 21st century version of FranklinCovey.  But what exactly would a contemporary version of that famous turn-of-the-century day planner company look like?

In some regards, Freedom Focused will look a lot like FranklinCovey.  For example, we will initially build our business on book sales, seminar receipts, and consultation fees.  Later, as we grow and earn greater leverage, we will add additional products and services aimed at promoting personal, professional, and global freedom through Self-Action Leadership—our trademark training philosophy, theory, and model

Like FranklinCovey, we may someday have retail stores that sell books, training materials, and other related products.  Moreover, professional training and consulting services will always form part of the core bedrock of our business model.  This, however, is where the convergence ends and the divergence begins.

How then, will Freedom Focused be different?  How will we distinguish ourselves from FranklinCovey and other professional training companies like it?

At Freedom Focused, our primary concern is
transforming what happens in classrooms across America

The answer to this question lies in our focus.

Instead of aiming primarily at corporate audiences, our fundamental focus will involve the Educational World of communities, schools, homes, and individual lives.  This means that if we had our choice between securing business with every Fortune 1000 Company in the nation, or signing educational contracts with every public school district in the U.S., we would choose the educational contracts over the corporate deals.  This is not to say that we will neglect corporate interests; far from it; nevertheless our primary, long-term objective is to make inroads into traditional classrooms and other educational-based venues.  

Why would we do this when there is far more money to be made in Corporate America?  The answer is simple: our vision at Freedom Focused transcends making money.  It is also larger than merely helping individuals and organizations to be more effective.  Our vision is to influence a widespread shift in the culture itself, bringing about an end to philosophical postmodernism (moral relativism) and leading the onset of philosophical authenticism (moral absolutism).

Changing a culture is not an easy endeavor; it does not happen quickly.  The only way to generate authentic cultural shifts that last is to infiltrate educational systems beginning at the lowest levels (pre-k and elementary), then on to the middle levels (secondary and collegiate), and finally up to the highest levels (graduate and professional).

Our preeminent vision at Freedom Focused is to change Western society and culture by successfully entering educational systems everywhere as advocates, purveyors, and providers of physical (scientific) and metaphysical (moral) Truths.  To get the ball rolling in this direction, we have developed the world's first ever comprehensive, secular, textbook for life that introduces students to philosophical fundamentals that, if learned and consistently applied, will lead any student-practitioner to long-term growth, success, and happiness.

This TEXTBOOK is called, Self-Action Leadership, Volumes I & II.

Far from being a typical self-help book, Self-Action Leadership is a philosophically-oriented academic text rooted in careful and conscientious doctoral research.  It is specifically designed to serve as a seminal, secular text on self-leadership and character education that can be used in classroom settings and beyond.

As the author of this text, I spent 13 years of my life carefully researching, observing, and revising to ensure this text delivers on its promise to influence quantum cultural changes that will signal a new era of peace and hope marked by a resurgence of collective character through personal integrity in the United States and beyond.

The best way to begin accomplishing this mammoth undertaking is to first popularize a message—and text—that can serve as an example and model of what leadership and character education in our schools should look like. And what should it look like?  It should be secular, non-partisan, non-ideological, and rooted in academic research and experiential common sense.

This text has now been written.

We invite you to buy a copy today and read it—with your eye single to the LOVE you have for your children, grandchildren, and someday, your great-grandchildren, as well as the HOPE you hold for their future.

Click HERE to buy a copy of Self-Action Leadership.

Down the road a ways, Freedom Focused will continue to diverge from FranklinCovey's original business model by offering full-service, holistic health gyms, comprehensive mental health centers, a leadership, character, and life-skill focused accredited university—Freedom Focused University—outreaches to the homeless, poverty-stricken, and mentally ill, and an artistic, theatrical and motion picture company that produces art, music, stage, and cinematic productions in harmony with our vision of proliferating personal, professional, and global freedom by developing integrity in pursuit of authentic, holistic, personal growth.

Such marvelous dreams can yet become reality; but they must follow on the heels of other, more fundamental developments.  For now, our task is to put first things first, and our FIRST task is to proliferate and popularize the philosophy and message of Self-Action Leadership.  For that to happen, the message has to be read and then shared.  We invite you to help us get the ball rolling in the direction of Freedom by buying our book, signing up to receive our blog articles, and visiting our website at www.freedomfocused.com

SELF-ACTION LEADERSHIP is the key catalyst for initiating transformational leadership that lasts in any organization. The truth of the matter really is that simple; and the transformation of organizations through the holistic development of individuals really is that difficult—yet altogether possible for anyone willing to invest the time, effort, and sacrifice required to achieve authentic, transformational results.

Unlike any training program that has ever preceded it, Self-Action Leadership provides a single vehicle wherewith individual self-leaders can discover—and then act—upon the great truth that HOLISTIC personal development and growth spanning the mental, moral, spiritual, physical, emotional, social, and financial elements of our individual natures is within the grasp of each one of us.

Note: Freedom Focused is a non-partisan, for-profit, educational corporation. As such, we do not endorse or embrace political figures. We do, however, comment from time-to-time on historical or political events that provide pedagogical backdrops to illuminating principles contained in the SAL Theory & Model.

Click HERE to learn more about the SAL Theory & Model.


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SAL Seminar: Self-Leadership

Today's post shares a video segment on self-leadership from Dr. Jensen's recent live SAL seminar. Before defining, explaining, and highlighting what Self-Action Leadership (SAL) is, it helpful to first be clear on what self-leadership is.  In next Tuesday's post, we will share two follow-up video segments that address Self-Action Leadership, and explain specifically how it differs from self-leadership.

The Power to Change

You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes.
You can steer yourself any direction you choose.
You’re on your own. And you know what you know.
And YOU are the guy who’ll decide where to go.[1]
– Dr Seuss

I can change.