You Can’t Teach Discipline – Here’s What I Learned at West Point
Recently, I was discussing my time at West Point with a family member. She asked if my experience there taught me discipline. I took a moment to think about it, then I responded by saying you can’t teach discipline.
I wasn’t trying to be witty or anything like that with my response. This is simply the only conclusion I could come to after a lifetime aspiring for more discipline. I believe discipline is the summation of hundreds of small decisions. Decisions made as a result of a belief system.
In order to pursue any long-term goal, you need an immense amount of discipline. The only way to maintain this discipline over time is to believe deep down inside that your daily habits and routines are the only path to success. Without this belief system, learning about discipline is pointless.
Going back to my conversation about learning discipline at West Point and me saying you can’t teach discipline…
I think the more appropriate question is how did my experience there impact what I believe about discipline. My response then is simple. West Point had a profound impact on what I believe about discipline. I saw with my own eyes how those cadets with the best daily habits and routines had the best outcomes. Not only as cadets, students and athletes at West Point, but also in life 20+ years later.
Talking with some of these individuals about their lives prior to West Point, I understand why. These individuals came to West Point with specific beliefs about what it would take to graduate. In addition, they came to West Point with very specific career goals. This is what fueled their discipline and their ultimate success in achieving their long-term goals.
As a result, I am a firm believer that a life of discipline is the only predictable path to achieve a long-term goal. Furthermore, this deeply held belief resulting from my West Point experience (and several other experiences) is what has led me to a lifetime aspiring for more discipline.