If you love yourself, discipline yourself!

I harden my body with blows and bring it under

complete control, to keep myself from being disqualified

after having called others to the contest.

1 Cor 9 : 27.

Many studies done on self esteem showed that discipline is a very good way to build your self esteem.

Children who grew up with too much freedom, making all their own decisions have low self esteem. The prospect of making decisions makes people anxious. If you don't have clear lines as to what you must decide it creates uncertainty and there is not much to compare yourself or your decisions to. If you don't have much to compare, you don't know how you are doing. Therefore, it leads to anxiety and low self esteem.

If you teach children to do things in a structured way, like brush their teeth, go to bed at certain times, study an amount of time everyday  you create a standard at which they can compare themselves. If they can do all these things that you told them to do, they feel happy and content. They have something to compare themselves to and they raise their self-esteem. As they become older they are given more important things to do. They succeed in doing them and as they go along they feel good about themselves and are ready to take on even more responsibilities!

So, if you don't feel good about yourself, you probably have nothing to compare yourself to, there is no structure in your life, no purpose, nothing to do and no achievement.

Achievement makes you happy!

The best way to work on loving yourself is to turn the heat on you. Lift the bar one notch and see if you could manage that little pressure. If you have success with the new challenges you will feel a little better and little by little your self-esteem will grow.

Paul said it is like running a race. "Every athlete in training submits to strict discipline, in order to be crowned with a wreath" It almost sounds like, without discipline there will be no glory and hence no self-worth.

To qualify for something makes you happy, to achieve something brings elation!

Say for instance you are totally depressed and feel worthless, you don't even want to get up in the morning, set yourself a standard even if it's very small. To start with, just get up and wash your face. If you manage to do that, see it as an achievement and commend yourself for that.

Discipline yourself in small steps set the standards very low at first and in this way you'll harden your body and build your self-esteem. You will qualify and little by little you will grow into a better you!.

It will become more and more obvious that you can stand up for yourself, make decisions and reach the goals you want to. A Human being is created for a purpose therefore life on earth is purpose driven, start slowly to get purpose back into your life!

Paul hardened himself for his calling. He disciplined himself to become all things to all people, that he may save some. That was his set of rules, his structure for achievement.

This mindset gave him the energy and zest to go on, regardless of the situation or problems.

Paul knew the importance of his life and what he was up to. He was confident in his work and position in life even if it was disgraceful to others. He just went forward like a freight train, like a bullet unstoppable.

To reach your full potential in life you have to create structure and discipline. That is what it means, to be like a boxer, not wasting his punches. Be sure how you run and how you fight. Don't waste your punches, be disciplined and structured!

If you want to be happy and content with yourself, energetic, strong and resilient start with a little bit of discipline and see how you fly!

Prevent trouble before it arises

Put things in order before they exist

The giant pine tree

grows from a tiny sprout

The journey of a thousand miles

Starts from beneath your feet.

                                                            Tao te Ching