No more excuses! We often make resolutions at the beginning of the year. Most people do break their resolutions and return to their own ways of indiscipline. Let’s get our life right by understanding the following:
• Common excuses
• Discipline for the Mind
• Effort of the Intellect
Some Common Excuses We Give To Ourselves And Others
Not enough time – the fact is we do not have enough time for certain things, so we give excuses for not having sufficient time.
Not the right time – this is the disease of the mind to procrastinate actions that we need to perform. There is no such thing as the best time, put in the effort and make the time right for you. Understand, the more you work hard, the more luckier you become. When your preparations meet the right opportunity, magic happens.
Not smart enough – this is a mindset problem. Understand, talent takes you up to a certain level but it’s character that keeps you firmly at the top. You are smart when talent is complemented with character. And character is built by constantly upgrading your value systems.
Not enough discipline– discipline is when you don’t succumb to the whims and fancies of the mind and lose focus. Discipline is when intellect guides the physical senses and your mind. Discipline is to align your efforts with the one chosen action and remove yourself from all the choices that become your distractions.
Not having enthusiasm – the mind is strong and entertains fear, anxiety, and worry. The nature of the mind is to give in to the anxiety of the future, worries of the past, and fear of the present. As a result, your enthusiasm is low.
The Mind Can Be Disciplined In The Following Ways
Replace giving excuses with taking responsibility.
Replace mindless scrolling for mindful reading.
Replace worrying with contemplating.
Replace following a herd for leading by example.
Replace idle time with nature walks.
Replace the complaining habit with taking responsibility for your choices.
Replace energy drainers with peace enhancers.
Replace hatred with compassion.
Replace anger with understanding.
Replace attachment with love.
Replace false promises with firm commitments.
Replace setbacks with resilience.
Replace mind anxiety with intellect clarity.
Replace weak emotions with gratitude.
Replace helpless loneliness with graceful aging.
Replace wasteful gossip with stoic silence.
Replace ego with awareness and humility.
Replace mechanical rituals with purposeful self-transformation.
Replace blind faith with joyful surrender of arrogance.
Replace ignorance with information and innovation.
Replace laziness with the right use of time.
Replace the fear of physical death with the joy of a lasting legacy.
Intellectual Integrity Required For Life
Demand more of your efforts than you had put in last year.
Discipline yourself to use the mornings most effectively and efficiently.
Read a minimum of 30 minutes.
Remain in silence for 15 minutes.
Exercise for 60 minutes.
Listen to inspirational music for 30 minutes.
Expose yourself to the sounds of nature and the glory of the sun for 30 minutes.
Have 30 minutes of no technology time.
Write a journal & carry a small book of inspiring messages.
Start the day with gratitude.
End the day with a thank you.
Remember you’re just a mortal.
Let’s pursue resolutions with enthusiasm and consistency. Let’s not give lame excuses and fall out of our resolutions, our chosen goal. Let’s use our intellect and supplement the mind with discipline. Life gives us two choices, you either evolve or repeat. Let’s evolve and become the best version of ourselves. Let’s make our life beautiful.
Text by S A Sreedharan
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