Live to Your Fullest Potential

Changing any habits or behaviors that are not consistent with living to our fullest potential requires discipline. First, we discipline our mind to engage in introspection for greater understanding, then we discipline our speech and actions to conform to a new behavior, one that satisfies our vision of a fulfilled life. None of it has to wait for anyone else. Whenever we are ready, we can discipline ourselves for change.
~Yogacharya Ellen Grace O'Brian

Generally self-discipline has a bad reputation in the US, but from my time of spiritual practice, I have learned that self-discipline is really just doing the right thing. Roy Eugene Davis said "Do what you know you should do." What helped me most was keeping a diary about the area I was working on, for example generosity. After some practice, I learned to curb my tendency to say "No" when asked about showing generosity. With the discipline of introspection I realized that saying no was just my fear of not having enough. Through the discipline of discernment I realized all that I did have and could decide what the appropriate level of generosity was for me. Self-discipline supported me in gaining a better knowledge of myself and gave me the tools to act in the world in a more positive way. It is a wonderful tool when exercised with understanding and compassion.