Discipline Triumphs Motivation
An 18 year old entering the army, will often be a different person when coming out.
They’ve went in a boy and came out a man, I’ve heard that.
Why do they say this I thought?
Often it is because they come back with a level of discipline, maturity and structure in their lives that they did not possess prior to entering the army.
Discipline is defined as the quality of being able to behave and work in a controlled way which involves obeying particular rules or standards.
Sounds incredibly militarian, right?
How does this apply to Islam?
Well, we are often considered "soldiers of Allah" in a spiritual sense, as we are entrusted with following His commands and striving for righteousness. This concept extends beyond military action though, as Muslims we are constantly on deployment, we are constantly in a state where rules, standards and laws are apply to us. This is what being a Muslim is.
Let’s explore some examples around how we are taught discipline in Islam:
5 prayers a day, at a set time and with set criterion to complete.
Ramadan, a set month, with set timings around when to open and close the fast.
Zakat, giving a specific amount to charity each year.
Umrah or Hajj, following a set of rituals.
The list goes on.
We are soldiers in every aspect of life, apply it to the workplace, we check in at a certain time, we check out at a certain time.
We are soldiers growing up in the education system, we attend school at a certain time, complete a set of classes and do exams written by an education board.
Being a soldier is a form of discipline. It strengthens us and makes us steadfast, it helps us stick to our purpose.
My favourite type of soldiering is that of Islam.
Discipline in it’s finest form.
Muslims observing the Friday prayer, leaving behind their business dealings and going to pray in congregation.
Building discipline in Islam involves intention.
Discipline for me, was knowing the reward was in the hereafter. Not always evidently seen in this life.
This meant that whatever good I do, rules I follow, standards I set - sure they will likely benefit me now. But playing it for the long game is far more valuable to me.
Growing up in a world where things are so easily accessible and attainable (compared to 20 years ago) if you put your mind to it, does breed a sense of discipline.
You see someone doing something and you believe (within reason) you can emulate it.
I am somewhat doing that with the website. I spoke to a few people who mentioned that documenting your experiences, building a portfolio of content which is relatable to others and sharing it can help validate me as a reputable/credible writer.
So that’s what I am doing. Following a set of standards and procedures to get me to my intended outcomes.
Staying focused, motivated and inspired is definitely important. But I would argue remaining disciplined is the number one trait to adopt.
It provides a consistent, sustainable approach to achieving goals, even when inspiration wanes, and builds habits and routines which a long-lasting.
If the above makes sense to you and you enjoyed reading it, let me know!
