throughout history, discipline has been associated
with the military, as if other professions can do without it. The truth is,
everyone needs discipline in one form or another in order to carry on life’s
various challenges. We could agree, however that perhaps certain professionals
like those in the military, the fire service and other high risk jobs need it
more than others. Basically, discipline, if seen in one way, is the carrying out
of something -- like an order or a task -- by sticking to it despite even
threats to life and limb. Actually the word has the same root as disciple and
is sometimes defined to mean the art of being disciples’.
The art of discipline is taught in occupations
where implicit and immediate obedience to orders is important. Hence we have
high levels of discipline in the armed forces, in ships and in the fire
service. In the fire service for example, it is imperative that the firemen
carry on fighting the fire without fleeing from the discomfort and heat. Most
often it is only the chief fire fighting officers who know the situation and
what everyone else is doing. Hence everyone works as a team and throws himself
into the task, leaving all judgments to the leaders. Coordination and trust in
each other and the leaders have to be perfect. Each man has to do exactly as he
is told, without question -- even at the risk of his life -- that is true
discipline.
In the army where commanders are the only ones who
can see the whole picture the same thing happens. Often the commander has to
make decisions knowing that his men and perhaps he too, are going on a
no-return mission. Yet the discipline of the profession and the intense
training that they had gone through makes them charge to their deaths -- in
fulfillment of their missions.
In spite of such gory examples of discipline, the
fact remains that discipline is indicative of a strong character. If keenly
cultivated as part of oneself, discipline can take one to truly great heights
in life. It is discipline which makes a student study when he would rather be
doing a hundred other things; it is discipline which makes a writer forego
sleep and write thousands of words to meet a deadline and it is discipline that
keeps us all working towards our goals instead of being distracted by easier
options. Discipline is what makes the difference between successful life and
mere following along without an aim and being at the mercy of circumstances.