The Ability to Delay
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The good news is there is something that works better
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to do this is a great predictor of success in life. A disciplined
person lists personal goals and works until those goals are
accomplished, despite failures and setbacks. Stephen Covey,
an American educator, author, and businessman said, “Only
the disciplined are truly free. The undisciplined are slaves to
moods, appetites, and passions.” 2
How to Succeed
Being undisciplined is harmful to our self-worth and selfesteem.
For most, the guilt and frustration of avoiding what
needs to be done is worse than the pain of actually doing the
work. In the words of researcher Eliezer Yudkowsky, “On
a moment-to-moment basis, being in the middle of doing
the work is usually less painful than being in the middle of
procrastinating.” So, why do we still procrastinate? James
Clear, an author in behavioral psychology and a motivational
speaker put it best, “Because it’s not being in the work that
is hard, it’s starting the work. This is why it is often more
important to build the habit of getting started when you’re
beginning a new behavior than it is to worry about whether
or not you are successful at the new habit.”
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So, act. Put all of your effort and discipline into making
it as easy as possible for you to get started. The key is
not to rely on motivation or good intentions alone, but
to plan where, how, and when you will accomplish your
new habits. Then you can use your discipline to simply get
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1Statistics Brain Research Institute
2Covey, The 8th Habit
In January of 2018, Michelle Brown's cousin challenged her to run 500 miles. She accepted
the challenge and started by running one mile a day. Within three months, she had lost
25 pounds. She has now surpassed her goal of 500 miles and has lost a total of 40 pounds.
Michelle runs outside on trails and inside at Bradley Wellness Center. "I think most people
consider exercise as just a way to lose weight, but for me it's a stress release, too."
Hamilton
Bradley Wellness Center
1225 Broadrick Drive, Dalton • 706.278.9355