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What comes to your mind when you hear the word ‘disciplined thinking’? What is the first thing you note on hearing this phrase? Disciplined thinking is not a big word that we are not familiar with. We don’t pay proper attention to it. First of all, we need to understand the terms that form that phrase mean, and they are Discipline and Thinking.
Defining these two words would give us an insight into the task at hand. According to the dictionary, discipline means the quality of being able to behave and work in a controlled way that involves obeying particular rules or standards. Thinking means to ponder, evaluate and analyze something in one’s head. Discipline might also mean self-control or self-restraint.
STRONGHOLDS OF DISCIPLINED THINKING
Disciplined thinking doesn’t just happen. And it is an intentional and desperate act. It hangs on some key things which are vital. We will be discussing this shortly.
- Self Confidence
- Self-Discipline
- Critical thinking
SELF CONFIDENCE
To be able to make disciplined thoughts, you must be self-confident. When you become confident in yourself and in the things you do, you feel good, and that good feeling builds your confidence. Disciplined thinking requires you to make some solid decisions, and without self-confidence, you won’t be able to do that. When you respect yourself and don’t look down on yourself, people will not look down on you.
This can be seen in how you interact among colleagues and other people in the environment, your choice of words, restraint of some extreme jokes and play, and how you handle fights and conflict. Someone who sees himself or herself as mediocre will not make a quality, decisive and disciplined stand when the need arises.
SELF DISCIPLINE
This refers to how we relate ourselves to other external things that involve decisions and firm stand. It means recognizing and exercising choices that move us closer to our goals or makes them easier without losing our self-importance. It can also suggest opting for options, among numerous others, that will help us sustain standards and make our tasks more manageable. One who is not disciplined in how he or she does things will find it hard to have a disciplined thinking session. An example of this can be seen in someone who talks too much or someone whose decisions are driven by his taste and addictions.
CRITICAL THINKING
Critical thinking is the ability to think rationally and critically, generate ideas, and analyze them to get the best results. Another stronghold of disciplined thinking is critical thinking. It explores and evaluates a situation and brings a better approach to solving it. A disciplined thinker is expected to make good decisions and cannot be done without critical thinking. Critical thinking puts a disciplined thinker in the driving seat of a situation.
Moreover, disciplined thinking cuts across all areas of life. Everyone needs it irrespective of position; as a leader, follower, or individual working towards achieving their goals. Disciplined thinking starts with the personal desire to get the best out of a situation, and it involves a strong mindset and energy.
TRAITS OF DISCIPLINED THINKING
COMMITMENT
Naturally, a disciplined person is committed. A disciplined thinker is dedicated to his course and wouldn’t allow anything to affect his decisions.
FOCUS
Disciplined thinking is about being able to focus. One is swayed around by ideas and beliefs cannot get a disciplined thought.
GOAL-DRIVEN
A disciplined thinker is goal-driven; they work towards achieving their set goals. Disciplined thinking is not just for thinking’s sake. It is aimed at achieving one’s goals faster without losing self-dignity. There are ways by which someone might work towards achieving their goals; some are a good way and others wrong. That is why it is included that attaining one’s destination without having to lose self-importance and self-respect.
POSITIVE MINDED
Disciplined thinking is about positivity. There will be times when situations might not look like how we want them, a disciplined mind stays positive. During this unpleasant period, one might be pressured to make some low-standard decisions or bow to pressure or accept offers from one’s rival, despite a disciplined thinker staying positive.
SOLUTION DRIVEN
Instead of wailing and whining about unpleasant circumstances, disciplined thinking remains focused on the solution.
HOW TO ACHIEVE DISCIPLINED THINKING
Know yourself:
Knowing yourself is the first step to being a disciplined thinker; you must know what your strengths and weaknesses are. If you don’t, you will do some things pleasant to your eyes but an aberration to society. When you realize your strengths and weaknesses, you will discipline that weakness you have and take it over before it starts to dictate your thoughts.
Stay clear of temptations:
To become a disciplined thinker, you don’t test your strength by having your weakness surround you. Remove anything that can distract you from being disciplined. When you do this, you have a conducive environment for development, and you will be able to focus. Do you know the reason why some scientists and great philosophers go to quiet places to think and examine situations? It is to keep them focused.
Set clear and achievable goals:
Disciplined thinking aims to tailor our decisions to make the right and best choices to complete our tasks more manageable. When you don’t set goals (I mean goals that are feasible, not unreasonable ones), you can think of ways you can achieve them.
Develop plans for achieving your goals:
After setting up goals, the next thing to do is develop strategies for achieving them. One thing is to set goals, and another thing is to create plans that will lead you to achieve them. Disciplined thinking will help cut off all the irrelevancies in this plan.
Develop new habits you feel you lack:
I have heard some people say they find it difficult to focus. That is one of the basic patterns one must learn to be able to have disciplined thinking. Check yourself and watch out for drawback habits to discipline thinking, learn and practice them.
ADVANTAGES OF DISCIPLINED THINKING
The importance of disciplined thinking is much greater than the tasks involved. Disciplined thinking gives you inner strength and helps build good character. You will be able to control your emotions and not your emotions controlling you. One of the steps stated above tells us about knowing our strengths and weaknesses. Knowing your weakness and improving on them makes you a better person.
For example, you are the type that laughs and says funny things to make people laugh and brighten a moody environment, but your weakness is you lose your senses at the least of things that should get you angry, and when you lose your temperance, you don’t know anybody again.
This is very bad because you will do regrettable actions if care is not taken.
Finally, in achieving one’s goal in life, one needs to be disciplined. A person who is not punished cannot fulfill his or her purpose. Do you find it challenging to be a disciplined thinker? Connect with us at The Black Sheep community today.
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