In life, we either pay the price of discipline, or the price of regret.

We pay these prices in all areas of our life; our careers, relationships, health, spiritual development, and financial affairs. It’s unfortunate that many of us fail to comprehend this simple law of life.

How is this true?

The laws that apply to all of life’s issues, such as discipline, commitment, patience, integrity, practice, self-control, and focus…either help us live with freedom, peace, and harmony, or heartache, failure, regrets, and misfortune… as we move along the path of life. Much of the latter could be avoided (though, not all of it) if we would understand, accept, and integrate this simple truth into our lives.

The price of discipline might be that daily dose of exercise, that moderation in your life affairs, our eating habits, your relationship strategies… such as open and honest communication… and, of course, managing our resources wisely. The absence of these daily little disciplines will accumulate, day-by-day, and year-by-year until you inherit the long term consequences of these misdeeds.

We’ve all had many personal experiences where the lack of daily discipline comes back one day to haunt you. Some of you may have thankfully discovered that, through these learning experiences, no one is immune to this truth. Arrogance, ignorance, or a combination of both offers no valid excuse, and life really doesn’t care if you claim either or both as your problem (excuse).  We’ll each pay for it, one way or another, sooner or later.

Remember… daily discipline weighs mere ounces in the “load of life,” while life-long regrets can feel as if they weigh tons…

…the sweat of discipline and sacrifice is nothing compared to the pain and regret of inaction.

One way to determine which of these you’re actually paying the price for, is to:

  • Pay attention to your quiet, yet persistent, inner, little voice that urges you to change something, anything, or everything.
  • Listen to the people around you: family, friends, peers at work, etc. Are they trying to tell you something?
  • Look at areas of your past life for which you feel, or have felt regret of some kind. Are you repeating old behaviours, still, today?
  • Tune in to life…its issues, demands, expectations, as well as all of the voices, signals, and messages you’re receiving or intuiting. Are you hearing, or ignoring them?

Ask yourself…

  • What can you learn from this?
  • What might you change? Leave the same?
  • What price will you have to “pay” to achieve, get, or experience it?
  • Will it be worth the cost?
  • Will you pay it?
  • …and then what?