Discipline often has a negative connotation these days. However, discipline is the key to self-motivation, goal achievement, and protecting our loved ones. The absence of discipline in today’s society is one of the major breaking points, coming to bite American society in the backside.

As we continue the Little House in the Big Woodsreview, we learn about a story involving an undisciplined young man. The men were trying to cull oats from the field, and when they asked the young man, Charlie, for help, he was no help. He tried to be annoying and began crying wolf to distract the men. When they would come to help him, Charlie would laugh at them. Finally, the men didn’t respond. Charlie had gotten into a yellow jacket nest and was stung from head to toe. Laura’s father said he deserved it because he was so naughty.

Webster’s dictionary defines discipline as

Control gained by enforcing obedience or order. Orderly or prescribed conduct or pattern of behavior.

Training that corrects, molds, or perfects the mental faculties or moral character.

Punishment

Field of study

A rule or system of rules governing conduct or activity.

Many of these definitions have a negative connotation, and as a child, I would have agreed. Discipline was something my parents employed to correct unwanted behavior. When school started, I attended Catholic school. I felt oppressed by the rules and subsequent disciplinary actions that would follow when I did not conform to the standards.

As I grew, I always stayed very disciplined in my school work. I wanted to make my mother proud, which motivated me to remain diligent. In many other ways, I was undisciplined. I saw rules as something meant to be tested, and I pushed the boundaries whenever possible—growing into a young adult, little changed.

Then I had children, and many things changed. I understood that discipline was necessary to protect my young son. I watched other parents, opposed to rules, allow their children to eat from the trash and get into dangerous situations that the parents could easily avoid. My husband and I felt that if a child won’t listen to you at two, he certainly isn’t going to listen when he is sixteen. We wanted the best for our son, and we didn’t want him to grow into a disrespectful punk. The only way to do that was through discipline to mold his behavior. It was not harmful, just corrective so that he could grow into an asset to society rather than a burden.

Two years after my first son, I began my martial arts career. I wanted to train because I love to fight and wanted to know how to do it better. Little did I know that while learning to fight better, I would learn discipline and self-control. I had to stay dedicated to my training to advance and push myself to become more than I was. When I got my black belt, I realized why martial artists considered it an accomplishment. Getting your black belt means your dedication to your training has elevated you to a status where you are ready to wear the yoke of responsibility. Your commitment and dedication to your training continue without constant oversight and encouragement from an instructor because you are motivated enough to accomplish it independently. You are ready to teach others to exhibit the same type of discipline. This newfound discipline translated into every aspect of my life: exercise regiment, work-life, and chasing my dreams.

Discipline with good intentions is not a negative thing. It keeps young people safe and teaches them to be respectful, helpful, and develop healthy habits. Living a disciplined life helps you help others. You have to exhibit goal-oriented discipline to help others achieve theirs. Achieving personal goals requires a lot of discipline. If you aren’t committed and dedicated, you won’t get anywhere.

The negative connotation of discipline and child abuse cases caused the pendulum of society to swing too far. Now society is raising children whose parents have not adequately disciplined them. They grow into adults with an unrealistic view of reality. Life is not all sunshine and roses. It takes hard work to get where you want to go. There are consequences for actions. If you make a choice, you have to prepare for the fallout of your decision. Parents often look to external sources for disciplining their children, and then when it is applied, the parent becomes upset.

This lack of discipline in society created a workforce without a solid work ethic. Children raised without discipline don’t know how to self-motivate or self-correct. These undisciplined young adults falter and claim to be victims of unfair practices when expected to meet specific performance standards. They don’t know how to reflect upon their performance and discipline themselves to make a change.

People become more and more unhealthy at home because they are not disciplined enough to stick to healthy food choices and exercise regimens. These people look at activities like growing a garden as an unnecessary burden that takes too much time and commitment to grow and preserve. An undisciplined population also has a problem following God’s laws or understanding His word because it takes dedication to understand and commitment to walk in the light of the Lord.

An undisciplined population will eventually cry out for someone else to control what other people are doing because no one is displaying self-control or regulation. The government or a tyrannical leader becomes that disciplinary enforcer. In our case, it’s the government. The same undisciplined individuals who make up society are the same people filling the chairs within the government. The lack of commitment to values and the public elected them allows them to be easily manipulated and corrupted. They are supposed to be the last line of defense to protect society. Still, this corruption has run wild and with no source of accountability or disciplinary action.

Discipline is not about submission. It is about self-control, self-motivation, dedication, perseverance, and goal achievement. Discipline does not always feel soft and fluffy, but if you genuinely love someone, you will help them find the self-discipline to make themselves the best they can be.