Constraints inspire our creativity – not more freedom. Discipline channels otherwise impulsive behavior into development of ability. I know these things to be true, but there is a war going on inside me. A battle between two forces. There is the immature child, and there is the parent or “grown up” part of me. Too often the impetuous child in me wins the battle. Not surprising since this unruly child part of me has had 50 years to stake out territory in my brain and has habits of its own.
Making the 365 Commitment has brought this ongoing situation into the forefront. Deciding to make the 365 Commitment does not automatically confer maturity or self-discipline, or industriousness. No. It simply reveals our deficits in these departments and makes visible where we need to get to work on ourselves.
Do you want to see your short comings? Well, you must see them and face them if there is any hope of overcoming them. Do you want to be a more disciplined individual? Maybe you would like to be more creative? Oddly, and perhaps counterintuitivly, given our cultural infatuation with leisure and fun, constraints actually foster creativity, and discipline engenders competence and ability to work with others. It follows that if you want to be more creative and competent, then you need to create some constraints to work within; if you want to me more competent, then discipline yourself. These are not easy if there is an unruly child within your psyche that is still running the show, or parts of the show anyway.
Those of us who are grown and still need parenting, need to be that parent for ourselves. Now, the line between discipline and torture is something to be aware of, . . . don’t torture yourself . . . of course we don’t want to damage ourselves. But, this rationalization is mighty tempting and easily becomes an excuse – a hyperbolic easy out. “I’m not going to torture myself,” is misused and misapplied when we don’t exercise, don’t eat right, don’t apply appropriate focus and effort on our goals. In reality we aren’t avoiding “torture” we are just saying “I’m not going to discipline myself.” Don’t pretend that you are being kind, open, and enlightened with yourself when you are really just indulging the selfish, impetuous and lazy parts of your undeveloped personality.
Welcome to the 365 Commitment, a place where you will confront the reality of your current level of development and growth. The 365 Commitment is a constraint that will inspire your creativity. It is a daily discipline that will test you desire to increase your competence. It requires an internal battle of wills between your internal sub-personalities, simply put, the child and the adult. Make no mistake, you are entering the arena of battle for 365 days in a row! Some days you will lose, and some days you will win. There are many tools at your disposal, but most important is not giving up, take up the challenge everyday consistently and learn from yesterday. Get creative, use habit and increment as your sword and shield against that inner – out of control – toddler monster!
Today I will accept my self-imposed constraints, finding creative ways to work within them, I will discipline myself because I want to allow the potential competence within to shine forth. I will do these things because I think they are both categorical imperatives (read Kant), and if everyone did them it would be good for the world, and since it would be good in this context, it is moral and worthy in my life and will manifest meaning.
Ben Wagner (145)
Member The 365 Commitment
