26/09/2019
Discipline…
By Andre Lopez-Turner@bodybreathandmind.co.uk
“When motivation wanes discipline takes over.” I recall thinking this after discussing how a sportsperson conducts oneself with my uncle Glenn Turner, one of the finest opening batsmen in world cricket, as voted by the iconic magazine Wisden, and one of only 23 men in the history of the game to score one hundred first class centuries. I recall Glenn saying no one gets anywhere without discipline, practice and good technique. I saw discipline in my father’s dedication to fitness, he too being an international hockey player, poet and lifelong cyclist. And I saw it in my other uncle who played golf on the European tour for many years. I remember my youth being filled with sport, recreation and daily practices of cricket, rugby, football, and this quote referring to discipline came to me often as a Physical Education and Psychology student swatting for exams, and then as a frequent visitor to physiotherapists tables after numerous sporting injuries that required so much rehabilitation.
At BodyBreathandMind we hear the word discipline arise every time fitness, working out and healthy habits are mentioned. And its true, without discipline one doesn’t achieve much because it’s a magical ingredient when it comes to sticking to whatever one has expressed an in interest in doing, achieving or working towards. But what is discipline?
When endeavouring to understand what something means I look at a words root meaning for myself, and then consult a dictionary for clarity afterwards. I guess I try and figure it out first! For me the origin of the word discipline is - disciple. I think discipline means becoming a disciple to something or someone. I ask myself what am I a disciple of and find it is my health, specifically my body breath and mind followed by the environments health and well-being, society’s and my fellow human beings health and well-being. In order for me to be a disciple of my and others and the environments health and well-being I have to start working on my fitness so I can get stronger, move better, breath well, think clearly, thus I can engage in and with the world. In order to do this, I must have discipline.
So, ask yourself who or what you are a disciple of when your motivation wanes? It is the answer to that question that will keep you focused on your goal, keep you turning up and putting the work in when you’re beat, hitting a plateau or hear the words I’m tired and can’t be bothered.
Before I consult the dictionary, I go to the French Philosopher Michelle Foucoult, author of discipline and punish, who believed discipline was power exercised through institutions such as schools, prisons and hospitals. I don’t merge with Foucault’s opinion, namely discipline is used as a punishing force of control as it encompasses an external force, though this approach can work (generally for a short period of time). Here at bodybreathandmind we know, guide and teach (through schedules and motivation and fun) that motivation and discipline needs to come from within.
I consult the dictionary. I look at the word disciple. Asides from its religious definition, the dictionary says “a follower or pupil of a teacher, leader or philosopher (incidentally, philosophy derived from ancient Greek meaning love of wisdom). I discover the dictionary definition of discipline mentions the words – “practice, training, and the phrases - a system of obeying rules, codes of behaviour, codes of conduct, mental and physical training and a branch of knowledge like Kung Fu.” It also mentions, like Foucault did, “using punishment to correct disobedience.” There is much to work with!
On reflection I must have decided to become a disciple to my health from a young age, initially through a subconscious family link, and a societal one (as New Zealand is a sporting and recreation nation), then through playing representative sport, then studying, then working in drug and alcohol rehabilitation centres. Because of the former I always had a fitness base that led me to being able to “get away with it,” so for long periods of time I dipped in and out of fitness because I could. Then I hit forty and realised that my base and age would not hold me for long and if I wanted to be able to move well, feel good and do things then I needed to adopt that old New Zealand and family phrase – “get my arse into gear.” In other words, get exercising, draw up a schedule, find motivation and discipline so I can improve my health and well being and contribute to my friends, family, community and worlds collective body breath and mind.
Hence, I think discipline, routine and schedule are interlinked. My uncle told and tells me that. I know that one must have the former words registered in one’s brain and action them for whatever one is striving to do. It won’t happen without discipline, practice and repetition. Discipline also aligns itself with the six healthy habits I’ve written about and made a videoblog on. These six healthy habits are - Clarity, Energy, Necessity, Productivity, Influence and Courage (you can refer back to the blog piece on this or look on my YouTube channel).
From what I see most of us humans admire and respect various religions, books, movies, artists and sportspeople for what they say and do. We admire and take note of what they preach and practice. We take note of how they train. We follow and admire them from afar. Maybe we would like to be like them or unconsciously see ourselves in them. Whomever they are I guarantee they’ve adhered to various codes of behaviour, undertaken mental and physical practice and sought out knowledge from some teacher, leader, philosopher or religious person. And I guarantee they have their routines and schedules and daily healthy habits dialled in. They may or may not use the word discipline because whatever they do is conscious and has become the norm through small daily steps, and they’re “always beginning” like an Aikido master I know. I’m sure we follow and admire them because they are demonstrating health and well-being for themselves, their friends, family, community, planet and the world.
One of my many disciples is Mick Jagger. Who wouldn’t want to move like him when they’re seventy - five? And if I’m going to achieve this it’s a necessity (one of the six conscious habits, see blog) to discipline myself and train my bodybreathandmind on a daily basis! Otherwise I and the planet may not be around for as long as we could be!!!
