I grew up in an environment influenced by three main areas where discipline shaped and influenced my worldview. They are family, school, and, military discipline and braided rope like that in some shape or form game me a sense of what I call self-discipline.

These three social domains have similar and fundamental premises, which is to foster orderliness, self-control and obedience (not blind obedience but rather a multilayered navigation of the social dictum). Orderliness, obedience and self-control aim to provide self worth, self-esteem, and a positive outlook where a wider awareness and appreciation allows his or her to operate effectively in society. At an early age I was made aware of my boundaries and limitations by parents who were quick to discipline using verbal an on occasion a variety of physical punishments (grounding, isolation, caning). I do not view my strict upbringing and exposure to physical punishment as negative or inherently wrong. Nevertheless, I do not deal with my children in the same manner of my parents. Though, my life perspective and social circumstances are in many aspects a wildly different from my childhood.

I left the family home when I turned eighteen. Without a school leaving certificate and no tertiary or vocational background I worked in mainly low paid, unskilled itinerant employment. After four years the novelty of being out in the ‘adult’ world, independent and in the workforce wore off. Following this I joined the army. It was here that I first experienced a more logical and serious as well as focused approach with regards to discipline and authority.

I learned quickly that recruits were ‘encouraged’ to follow orders without question, regardless of their nature. That may seem ridiculous and even idiotic to the uninitiated; however, the discipline program required the company/platoon’s ‘chain of command’ to mould fifty complete strangers into a cohesive effective unit in an extremely short time. The military discipline handed out by my Corporals and Sergeants was designed in part to build self-esteem, create teamwork and develop assertive soldierly qualities. Military discipline had no patience for argument or dissention; yet, paradoxically it also awakened my sense of autonomy.

For me self-discipline is the culmination of acquired skills and realising your idiosyncratic social commitments and boundaries. I am responsible for my own decisions and the outcomes. Self-discipline is an ongoing process.

Applying the attributes of self-discipline help me deal with the challenges and obligations that life presents. For me, hard work, effective decision-making, active listening and a strong moral and ethical outlook reinforce my approach to self-discipline.

Gary Daly