Like everything else in life it’s important to find the balance. Self-discipline is a very important ingredient towards accomplishment. You could describe self-discipline as pushing oneself towards where one wants to be. The word discipline connotes difficulty or challenge. Otherwise discipline wouldn’t be necessary as the “discipline” is abstaining from indulgences and desires that are somehow pleasing. The necessity of abstaining from indulgences and desires is because those things are a distraction from the desired outcome or accomplishment as most likely the desired accomplishment is deeply satiating and aligned with one’s deeper desires than the ephemeral gratification or intoxication of momentary indulgences and desires. Discipline not only facilitates accomplishment is also builds character, mental strength, mastery and the ability to manifest what one chooses. This is a very rich reward and well worth all the self-discipline required to accomplish it. Yet this path does not bar levity, playfulness, gentleness and occasional detours into other nourishing endeavors. Remember all work and no play makes jack a dull boy! So be focused, be disciplined but don’t be extreme. You are a deep and complex being so don’t forget to nourish all sides of yourself.
Discipline becomes harmful when you are hurting yourself or others to accomplish something. When you become so blind to everything else in order to accomplish your objective. When your daily workouts don’t allow rest, when you push so hard you cause damage, when your goal supersedes your needs, when you think it’s good to ignore what your mind, body or the people closest to you are saying in the name of discipline. In that case you may achieve your objective yet the wreckage you leave in your wake is unrepairable and those things were important too! Possibly more important! Discipline is your tool to accomplish your objective it is not your master! It is commendable yet it is naïve to succumb to it. It takes great strength and humility and wisdom to find moderation. Be strong yet flexible, be focused yet accepting, sometimes making room for someone or something else takes more strength than being extreme. Discipline is damaging when you commit to driving straight yet the road is turning. You don’t always know what you need. You have to keep watching and listening to your teacher. Your teacher is the reality of your experience and what’s immediately in front of you.
Those who accomplish the greatest feats and receive all the accolades can find satisfaction in those things, but not happiness. They find happiness only in the same place as everyone else, in the love and care they give to themselves and everyone else.