Motivation & Discipline

Motivation & Discipline

So I read this article lately about how discipline doesn’t rely on motivation – in fact, motivation follows discipline. The more disciplined you are about doing something – the more motivated you feel about continuing to do it. Interesting. There are so many things I don’t “feel like” doing and have to do them anyway. Perhaps I need to apply that to the things I don’t “Have to” do.

Bits & Rudders

We’ve been reading James in our bible study and the conversation yesterday was all about taming the tongue. Believe it or not, this topic is one I remember learning about quite clearly. “Who can tame the tongue? It is a restless evil full of deadly poison” or “A harsh word stirs up anger, but a gentle word turns away wrath.” I remember it because my mom made me learn those verses early. It was a way for her to teach me not to poke the bear. My brother had anger issues and she felt that if I could tame my tongue, I could either not make the problem worse or calm the storm. The tongue is described in James as a horse’s bit or a ship’s rudder – a tiny part that leads the much larger whole.

Wanting & Doing

I don’t think there is anything wrong in teaching a child to learn to be judicious with their speech – or anyone for that matter. It was a bandaid for a problem that was much larger than me though. I learned to keep thoughts and emotions inside in childhood and spent my adult life learning how to express them in the most productive way. Wanting to say what I’m thinking and actually doing it have been dueling it out for some time. Do I have to say what’s on my mind? is it always necessary? Does my mantra of “Is it true? Is it necessary? Is it kind?” have a place? I think it does. Learning not to say whatever comes into your head is just as hard as learning how to express yourself in a measured, productive, and valuable way.

Insight

How does this relate to James and taming the tongue? It occurred to me that James doesn’t say to be careful what you think. He doesn’t focus on the thoughts at all really. Instead, he admonishes us to gain control over our tongues. When we control that – we have dominion over the rest. In other words – we are changing our hearts from the outside in. When we discipline ourselves to speak in a particular way – it begins to change the way we think. We become more measured, more charitable, and more empathetic because we are thinking before we speak. Conversely – when we spew whatever thoughts, feelings, and emotions we have thoughtlessly – we end up having more reckless thoughts. The insight that the action – the discipline – did more to change the heart than attempting to change the thoughts was striking.

Encouraging

I found it encouraging. It seems like an impossible task to never have negative thoughts or emotions. However, training myself to have the discipline to speak and act in a Godly way – whether I want to, whether I’m motivated to in the moment or not seems a lot more doable. Certainly, the fact that nobody notices the things I don’t say or do – but the act of not doing them softens, molds, and changes my heart to be more like Christ’s and that is the end goal. I am a sinner, my heart will never be perfectly pure, but I can work on disciplining myself to act in a way that is pleasing to God, and by doing it, my heart will change.

Be blessed & Keep Thriving!

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