Rule # 8 – Do Something That IS Difficult and Requires Self Discipline

Life is hard in the 21st century but then again; it’s also REALLY easy.

We have the internet, access to so much food we are becoming a nation of fatties. We have antibiotics that keep us alive past the age of 43. Most adults are allowed to vote.  I did not spend my life pumping out baby after baby until I mercifully died at age 39 after my 17th pregnancy.

So, that being said, We also have modern roadblocks like the never ending stream of technology/communication, spoiled children/spouses/parents, jerk bosses, keeping up with the Jones, terrorist threats, a shaky economy, the list goes on. There are challenges, but really, most of us lucky enough to be born in a rich country have it pretty darn good.

It’s easy to get sucked into the life of ease and luxury we live. The more we have, the more we crave the next thing, whether a gadget, a car, a whirlwind vacation, or an exciting adventure. What about trying something that is difficult and in order to accomplish this goal you must exercise self discipline?

I think that because we have so much handed to us in life, we have lost some of our ability to follow a task through from start to finish. The self discipline muscles needs to be flexed every one in a while.

The “something” that is difficult and requires self discipline does not have to be an epic project. You don’t have to write a best selling book, or fix the economy or remodel the entire house.

In September 2012, I celebrated my 600th book review. It took me over 6 years to write 600 book reviews. I never said, “I’m going to write 600 book reviews.” If I had said that I probably would have over thought the whole process and paralyzed myself with fear and doubt. Instead I sat down and I wrote one review. Then I finished a second book and wrote a second review. I did that for 6 years, even though sometimes I wanted to stop, and here we are 600 reviews later. So what was the point of writing 600 book reviews you ask? The point is that I like to write and this project gave me an opportunity to write something on my own terms. I will admit some of the writing is not very good but I stuck with it and I am sure that my writing improved. When you perform a task, whether it is short or long term, that requires attention, focus and diligence, you may find yourself using these virtues in other aspects of your life.

Yes, it’s true, doing something difficult will make you a better person. I have never met a person who did something really really hard and did not benefit from the experience.