What doesn’t kill you makes you… wiser.

You never know where life might take you. Some events are so random, unexpected and weird, that there’s no way to foresee or prepare for them. They usually occur out of nowhere and leave you with your mouth wide open, but also with the new knowledge and experience, that can change your point of view or even style of life.

Such things happen, when we least expect them. Sneak up on us. Put us in a position of a victim without our permission and often require the strong decision making at the same time. But I do believe, that the more intense the experience is, the stronger we become as a result of it.

I had an unexpected surgery after just a week of a plain stomach ache. Nothing has ever indicated that I might have been growing a 10 cm mass inside of me, but turned out I have. It is quite remarkable, how completely your body can be changed overnight, even if the only thing they’re doing is cutting of something that should not be there in a first place. All the things that you could do before, the normal things – like getting up, lying down, walking by yourself – after a surgery you can only dream about them. A complete incompetence of your body is so frustrating that you wake up and go to sleep with the same single thought: “I want it to be over”. On different stages this phrase may mean slightly different “overs”.

But to the point. We never know, what may happen to us. Life is unexpected. The important thing is to be ready for any possibility – both mentally and physically. But how to be prepared, when you have no idea what will come to get you? How to equip yourself with the tools and knowledge to overcome the unknown?

The answer is simple: self-discipline. Unfortunately this is not something you can gain overnight. It requires an effort to build your discipline and it has to be done regularly, even if your enthusiasm and motivation are low. So if you haven’t started building yours yet – now is the time to do it.

These are not the big things that require a lot of time from you. The recommendation from scientific research is to go small at first. 2-3 minutes of sitting straight during any point of the day. Drinking a glass of water and doing few physical exercises right after you get up. 5-10 minutes of reading, watching or listening to something that develops and interest you. Thinking about 3 things you’re grateful for by the end of the day.

It’s all very doable and doesn’t take much of your time, but it has to be done on a regular basis (daily is the most efficient way). The best way to achieve that is to monitor your progress - write down each “self-discipline building” activity and mark them down as “completed” or “not achieved” every day. This technique might seem silly, but it’s actually one of the most powerful tools for discipline building according to science.

What are the benefits of self-discipline? There are plenty. It gives you the sense of purpose and builds the habits, that you can rely on for the rest of your life. Makes you consistently free and independent from your own limitations and inhibitions. 

The good habits influence your life in a way that all other (involuntary) habits do – they become a part of you. They build your strength, self-confidence and self-awareness. And in case of an unexpected emergency they will not allow you to fall into pieces, because you will want to get back to them as soon as possible.

Discipline is freedom.