But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:31
When I think of self discipline I think of someone’s commitment to a routine or diet or new habit they are trying to create. So I thought #11 was the right place to to talk a little about exercise. You can imagine my pleasure when I looked up the definition and google returned with this: Self discipline is the ability to control one’s feelings and overcome weaknesses: the ability to pursue what one thinks is right despite temptation or abandonment. Oxford Langauages
This definition answers not only what it is, but also the WHY self discipline is so important. Recognizing we don’t have to fall victim to our emotions. We don’t have to “buy” into them. Not all of them, but I’d say most of them, are not helpful and are generated by our self indulgent egos. Time to make a decision to change our thoughts.
Today, I want to share a little about one activity that allows me time to process my thoughts and emotions without interruption, but requires self discipline. I’m talking about exercise. Physical movement.
I grew up in an environment with an emphasis on exercise. Not fitness, but exercise. My mom spent hours walking when we were young. As we grew up she would do other forms of exercise to help her achieve her goals. Which looking back, I believe also included reflection on her thoughts and emotions.
For me, as a young adult, I knew it was important to participate in some form of exercise, but I wouldn’t have been able to verbalize what exactly I was getting from it. Except that I knew it helped me stay in shape. It wasn’t until about 7 years ago that I began “thought work” and to explore the idea that every thought and emotion that went through my mind and body wasn’t necessarily the truth. And it certainly wasn’t always helpful to me. Exercise became my time to turn my attention inward and recognize what I was feeling or thinking. Once I could recognize what I was thinking, I could decide if I wanted to CHOOSE to feel that way, or CHOOSE to let that emotion go. Taking just 20 minutes to “stew” on it became so helpful. Initially most of my time spent in exercise was still unfocused time, but as I grew in my ability to recognize my thoughts and my emotions I began to use my exercise time for “fixing my face”. Getting myself to the place I CHOOSE instead of the place the thoughts or emotions were leading me.
After my brother died I wanted to curl up and get lost in my thoughts. It was easy for me to go down that dark bottomless tunnel. But fortunately for me I had begun my “thought work” a few years earlier. So I began putting effort into just walking whether I felt like it or not. Distance nor how long I walked mattered. It was hard to get myself outside and moving, but I knew that I could “stew” on my emotions walking just as easily as in the recliner. And walking/physical movement would also give me a dose of endorphins and naturally boost my mood for a period of time. So while I was getting a natural boost, I would take the time to reflect on myself. While I exercise I observe my thoughts from inside my body. I began to see them, so to speak. To play them out. To understand why I am experiencing them, and then make choices about them. It’s usually most helpful for me to recognize what I want at the end of the day and then make my choice based on which emotion or thought or action is going to most helpful in achieving that goal. It’s so important to realize we don’t have to BE every emotion that we experience. For example; If someone around me tells me something that I feel threatens my belief in who I am, I immediately get my guard up. I can feel that emotion in my body now just typing and thinking about it. My chest tightens and my hands get clamy. My thoughts begin to spiral. So when this happens, I don’t react in the moment. (Another really important lesson to learn.) I often times don’t respond at all to what my body and mind perceived as a threat. And as soon as I can get away and exercise in some fashion I begin to reason out my thoughts. Why it was true or not true, if I want to believe it or not, and how do I want to feel. It’s so important to realize I don’t have to BE those thoughts. I am in control of my outcomes. I am in control of these loose cannon emotions. I can keep them or I can let them go.
In closing, through self discipline (overcoming our emotions and thoughts) you can begin to change your “dark” thoughts by taking small steps, trying something new. Self discipline will be necessary in this process. I’ve mentioned two things here that were crucial to my emotional stability. 1. Exercise and 2. Thought work. I’m positive there are many others, just try something new and stick with it. Make it a daily habit. You are that important.
By the way, if you want to learn more about thought work just begin searching it on any platform; YouTube, Podcasts, Google.