A couple of days ago, I stumbled on this clip from Will Smith’s Instagram stories and I totally loved it. I found it so profound, I couldn’t help but want to share it with you. Will Smith says, “I believe that self-discipline is the definition of self-love.”
Disclaimer: I do not own any rights to this video and no copyright infringement is intended. Its intended use is for educational purposes only. Follow Will Smith on Instagram here.
By definition, Self Discipline is the ability to control one’s feelings and overcome one’s weaknesses; the ability to pursue what one thinks is right despite temptations to abandon it.
I like to think of discipline as doing what you need to do, even when it is hard to do it. Before I watched Will Smith’s video I had never really thought of discipline as a form of self-love. Looking at it now, it makes so much sense!
When you discipline yourself, you are able to do the things that are good for you. That is loving yourself. Discipline helps you to also get rid of things that are not good for you.
Some things have temporary pleasure but no long-term benefit. Self-discipline helps you to get rid of these. In essence, you are creating a safe environment for yourself to actually flourish. You cannot do that without self-discipline.
It dawned on me that you cannot be able to love yourself fully without self-discipline. Discipline says, endure the pain of sacrifice now so that you can enjoy the fruits tomorrow. Self-love says I love yourself so much that I want you to be happy tomorrow, for that reason I can endure the sacrifice today.
“Discipline is to forgo the immediate pleasure for the exchange of longterm self-respect. ‘- Will Smith #Discipline #Selfrespect #WillSmith #Quotestoliveby”
Self-respect is a product of doing the right thing. It is the pride that comes from knowing that you are doing something that brings honor to yourself.
A few more lessons picked on Self Love and Self Discipline from Will Smith:
- Self-love is the reason you are letting go of immediate pleasures. It is saying I love you too much to … (fill the blank with the area you are disciplining yourself). Love yourself enough to be self-disciplined.
- It is impossible to be happy if you don’t love yourself. By not being disciplined you are sabotaging your own happiness. The next time you find yourself doing something that is not going to give you long-term happiness, just don’t do it. That is discipline.
- The road to sustainable happiness is through disciplining your behavior. You are not going to attain sustained happiness without being self-disciplined. Disciplining your behavior may be difficult now, but your happiness is worth fighting for, isn’t it?
- We earn self-respect through self-discipline.
Self Discipline is Self Love.
Wondering how to develop self-discipline?
These books and this collection of resources here could be of help to you.
This is the one secret you need to completely turn your life in the direction you want.
“The road to sustained happiness is through disciplined behavior. When you say you love yourself, it means that you have behaviour towards yourself that’s loving.”
What a wonderful video. He is so spot on about the link of self love and self discipline. Thanks for a great article!
So so spot on. I loved it too. Thanks, Jeanne.
Discipline is something we are not born with but something we develop over time. Easier for some and harder for others but we can all achieve self discipline.
Very true, Candy. It is not easy to attain self discipline but it can be achieved and that is what we strive for.
Wow Debbie, this is so true. I haven’t thought about it like self-love but it’s so true. Dang
It’s hard to self-discipline.
I know! Thank you so much for your comment Melissa.