Discipline…The Art of Freedom

I cram for everything these days. Whether it’s tests, activities, friendships, exercise…I always seem busy at the last minute in preparation. I learned the “art of cram” very well in college. Well, I think I had the knack for it before, but had much more practice. :-) Because I’m getting sick of always feeling rushed and pressured, I’ve realized that I need some serious self-discipline in my life. To some, this will have seemed painfully obvious for years. For me, it’s just now becoming an issue. :-)

My hope is that I will be sufficiently self-disciplined so that the daily grind won’t pile up at the last minute, and I’ll remain flexible enough that when surprises (good or bad) come up I can flow with them and be more at ease. It’s akin to getting ready to pull an all-nighter for an exam tomorrow, but then getting a phone call from a friend to go see that new hit action flick at the local theater. If I had just been consistent and faithful with studying all along, I would feel the freedom to rest in the fact that I put in enough effort and can enjoy the rest of my evening.

Hence the title of this article. Discipline, from my frame of reference, is the doorway to freedom. I’ve bucked the idea for a while since I continue to find myself in the company of incredibly stiff people who have their lives so well scheduled that they really have no life at all. They are slaves to what they want to do. You probably know people like that, too. And if you are one, you have my deepest sympathy. But I digress.

So…on to the pathway of freedom! Now if only I could find my map…