What is discipline?

This is the practice of training oneself or others to follow rules, maintain order, or achieve a particular goal through consistent effort and self control. It involves the ability to manage one’s actions, thoughts, and emotions in a way that aligns with specific values, principles, or objectives.

Discipline practically helps individuals strengthen their minds, and increase their will power. There is self-discipline and external discipline:

• Self-Discipline: The ability to control your own behavior and impulses. This is an important resource to achieve long-term goals, and maintain personal integrity.
• External Discipline: Enforced by external factors, such as rules set by parents, teachers, employers, or society. It helps maintain structure and ensures individuals follow established norms or expectations.

What is freedom?

Freedom is the state of being free from constraints, limitations, or oppression, allowing individuals or groups to act, think, or make choices according to their own will. Freedom is often considered a fundamental human right and can take different forms depending on the context, such as personal, political, social, and economic freedom.

While freedom implies autonomy, it is often balanced with responsibility and the rights of others to ensure that individual freedom does not infringe on the well-being of the community.

No freedom outside discipline

This most important criteria in attaining freedom is self-discipline. Most individuals mistake freedom with the ability to give in to impulses, and do anything at will without any restrictions, nor self-control. But this is wrong, because that will otherwise be slavery, only that the prison will be the mind.

External discipline if properly applied, with good intentions, could help cultivate self discipline in individuals. However, true freedom can only be attained through self-discipline. To build a strong will power, one must be disciplined.

Most individuals equates taking self destructive actions, and decisions with freedom. But there is a big difference between freedom and lack of self-control, or ignorance of self. They want freedom with no consequences, or responsibility, but true freedom only means being responsible for one’s own actions, and choices.

©️Victor E. Ojei, 2025.