Discipline is the ability to respond appropriately regardless of our emotional state. It often requires the ability to tolerate some immediate discomfort in order to reap some satisfaction in the future. Discipline is an attribute that has tremendous power to influence our lives  and it grows stronger the more we practice.Unfortunately it's not an attribute that most of us are born with. It's primarily a learned behavior and it is best learned within a structured routine modeled by others and rewarded appropriately. Teaching, coaching, and modeling discipline is a cornerstone of good parenting. It's our duty to teach our children how to learn to apply effort, delay gratification, stay focused, and persevere towards their goals.It's also our duty to help them understand that rewards are not guaranteed. Sometimes it must be enough just to know we did or best even though the outcome is not what we desired. Responsibility and routine instill discipline. Are these a part of your daily family structure? Think about establishing order and then holding each family member accountable for maintaining that order. This is a good way to practice discipline. Your efforts will be rewarded. A discipline life is a peaceful life.

Lesley Dzintars for Behavior Management Systems.