February 17, 2022 | Tagged Motivation
4 Laws to help you use self-discipline to solve your problems.
Discipline, work, work, discipline. Gustav Mahler -- composer
At NBC Basketball Camps for years, we have taught about the value and importance of self-discipline. As a slogan we say, SD (self-discipline) - your best friend or your worst enemy. This means that if you consider the problems you encounter, lack of self-discipline is one of the reasons you are in trouble and self-discipline is a great tool to help you get out of the problem. Consider these four laws that can help you move to where you want to be as a basketball player and as a person.
Law of Gratification
Gratification means the feeling of satisfaction or reward. The more a person can delay gratification the stronger and more mentally tough he or she will be. For example, a famous study tested a group of children on this law of gratification. Children were offered the choice to get one candy immediately or two candies if they waited one hour. Researchers followed those children through life to see what success they would achieve. Those children who waited one hour to receive a greater reward were much more successful later in life than the children who took the candy right away.
Rate yourself:
- Do you study to learn something for the test only or to know it for yourself?
- Do you spend more time playing games or working on your skills?
- Would you rather watch TV or work on your game?
- Would you rather play video games or improve yourself?
- Is having fun more important or reaching your goals more important?
- Do you fear having to work hard?
- Have you ever given up candy or pop for a period?
- Have you ever given up electronics for a period?
- Would you rather be popular than do what is right?
- Would you rather be thought cool or courageous?
The Law of Attraction
The law of attraction means you attract to yourself the same level of maturity, and character quality in others. Look at your friends, they reflect who you are. Mean people will attract to themselves other mean people and because of this friendship, they become meaner. Great athletes attract to themselves other great athletes and from this friendship become greater.
Rate your friendships:
- Your friends are loyal
- Your friends encourage you to reach your dreams
- Your friends talk well of you when you are not around
- Your friends are thankful
- Your friends are respectful to others
- Your friends are hard workers
- Your friends have dreams and goals you admire
- Your friends would be there for you no matter what
- Your friends are fun to be around
- Your friends are pursuing their talents and abilities
- Your friends make you a better person
- Your friends encourage you
- Your friends admit when they are wrong
- Your friends speak well of others
- Your friends value kindness
Now answer the above questions but this time use yourself.
The Law of Homeostasis
Any system will always work hard to resist change. The body will resist change until the change becomes the normality. You have to work hard to make to the change become second nature so the body will accept this change. The more change you need to accomplish, the more outside power and pressure you need to sustain the change. For example, the more crooked your teeth, the longer you will need to wear braces. Once the braces are removed, your teeth will still want to go back to being crooked. In the same way, when you learn a new skill to use in a game, your body will resist the new skill until you can get your body to perform the new skill under pressure.
- How difficult is it for you to eat healthy food?
- How difficult is it for you to wake up with a positive attitude?
- How difficult is it for you to get along with your brothers and/or sisters?
- How difficult is it for you to work out hard on your own?
- How difficult is it for you to do your best in school?
- How difficult is it for you to like the way you look?
- How difficult is it for you to speak with respect and kindness to your mom or dad?
- How difficult is it for you to keep your belongings neat and organized?
- How difficult is it for you to learn a skill you are not good at?
- How difficult is it for you to do something which requires tons of repetitions?
- How difficult is it for you to not say negative things about yourself?
- How difficult is it for you to not say negative things about other people?
- How difficult is it for you to say no to something unhealthy or morally wrong for you?
The Law of the Inch
Because it takes so much energy and pressure to change, work to change an inch rather than a mile. Use your energy to change as much as you can that is in your environment.
Choose a problem you want to solve:
Baby steps: Set three small steps you can move closer to solving this problem:
Control what you can control: Eliminate as many things as possible in your environment that contribute to the problem.
Get help: Who can help you with this goal?
How big is this problem? The bigger the problem, the more outside help you need. What help do you need to fix this problem?
When you elevate your self-discipline, your life becomes full of intense power to achieve your dreams and goals.
About NBC Basketball Camps
Our mission at NBC Basketball Camps is to help athletes become the best player and person they can be. Our camps work on training the mind and heart not just the body. At NBC Basketball Camps we value challenging work, self-discipline, grit, resiliency, fortitude, humility, confidence, and a great attitude. For more information about our camp programs check out www.nbccamps.com or call us at 1-800-406-3926.