book review: no more excuses

 (  ♥) 

Recently I had a chance to read Brian Tracy's No Excuses!: The Power of Self-Discipline and I have to say, without any hesitation, that this book is a must-read. As I was reading it, I realized that page after page was filled with insights that applied to my life in so many ways. So many of the topics I like to write about and talk about on Positively Present were covered in this book. I had no idea this would be the case, as I was expecting the book to be completely about self-discipline. And it was -- but I learned that self-discipline (something I'd love to be better at but can't say is my strong suit) actually has to do with so many more aspects of life than we realize. In Tracy's book, he argues the point that, in order to succeed in life, you need self-discipline. Not money, not amazing luck -- self-discipline. The book shows readers why this is true (and after reading it, I really do believe it is!) and also how you can achieve personal success, business success, and overall happiness by mastering self-discipline. There are 21 chapters about self-discipline in the book -- on topics ranging from responsibility to leadership to marriage to courage -- and all of them taught me something new about the concept of self-discipline and how it can be applied to my life. 

As I was sitting on the couch, reading the book, I kept reaching for my pen, underlining and underlining the parts that applied to me and that I found interesting. At some point -- about half-way through the book -- I put the pen down because I realized I would just be underlining every other line if I kept noting all of the things that interested me. Today I'm going to share some of my favorite insights from the book here, though, as I said, these are only a few of the many, many useful nuggets of information found in the book. If you're looking for a self-help book of any kind or if you're looking to make some changes in your life but don't know how, this is the book for you. Check out some of the quotes below and keep in mind the the book is filled with wisdom -- and absolutely worth a read. 

Words of Wisdom from Brian Tracy

 

"Self-discipline is the key to personal greatness. It is the magic quality that opens all doors for you and makes everything else possible. With self-discipline, the average person can rise as far and as fast as his talents and intelligence can take him [or her]. But without self-discipline, a person with every blessing or background, education, and opportunity will seldom rise above mediocrity." 

 

"Success is possible only when you can master your own emotions, appetites, and inclinations. People who lack the ability to master their appetites become weak and dissolute... Your ability to control your actions, control what you say and do, and ensure that your behaviors are consistent with your long-term goals and objectives is the mark of the superior person." 

 

"Successful, happy people are concerned with the positive, long-term consequences of their behaviors, whereas unsuccessful people are more concerned with personal enjoyment and immediate satisfaction." 

 

"The more you practice self-discipline, the better your self-image. You see yourself and think about yourself in a more positive way. You feel happier and more powerful as a person." 

 

"Success is possible only when you can overcome the natural tendency to cut corners and take the easy way. Lasting success is possible only when you can discipline yourself to work hard for a long, long time." 

 

"Wisdom can be developed in private, through study and reflection, but character can be developed only in the give and take of daily life, when you are forced to choose and decide among alternatives and temptations." 

 

“People always tend to behave on the outside consistently with the way they see themselves on the inside... When you see yourself as calm, positive, truthful, and possessed of high character, you behave with greater strength and personal power.”

 

"Accepting responsibility is one of the hardest of all disciplines, but without it, no success is possible. The failure to accept responsibility and the attempt to foist responsibility for things in your life that make you unhappy onto other people, institutions, and situations completely distort cause and effect, undermine your character, weaken your resolve, and diminish your humanity. They lead to making endless excuses."

 

"The good news is that, at any time, you can stop thinking about, discussing, and rehashing the past. You can let it go and begin thinking about your goals and your unlimited future." 

 

"The very act of taking the time to decide what you really want in each area of your life can change your life completely." (Tracy provides an awesome 7-Step Method for Achieving Goals too!)

"Your thoughts create the conditions of your life. When you change your thinking, you change your life. Your outer world becomes a mirror-image reflection of your inner world." 

 

"You have to make a firm, unequivocal decision that you are going to pay any price and go any distance in order to achieve the goals you have set for yourself." 

  

The quotes above are only a few of the words from the pages and pages of insights that are in Brian Tracy's book. It truly is a great place to find wisdom on how you can change or improve almost any (and every!) aspect of your life. Toward the beginning of the book, Tracy writes, "Your success in life depends more on the person you become than on the things you do or acquire. As Aristotle wrote, 'The ultimate end of life is the development of character.' In these chapters, you will learn how to develop and use discipline in order to become an excellent person. You will learn how to develop greater self-esteem, self-respect, and personal pride." After finishing the book and writing this post, I reflected back on Tracy's words and realized that he is right: Self-discipline really does lead to a more positive life and a better acceptance and tolerance of one's self. That being said, I leave you with this question to ponder... 

 
Tracy argues that self-discipline makes people think of themselves more positively,
 but do you think all forms of self-discipline are positive?
 Is there a line that can be crossed when self-discipline turns from a positive force
 in one's life to a negative (perhaps obsessive...) one? 

Comments

[heidi @ wonder woman wannabe]

thanks for sharing!

[Syd]

I have always had a lot of discipline but am finding that it's okay to be spontaneous and just experience of lot of things. I'm also trying to catch up on all your posts. I have been busy with my wife away on vacation! But I will catch up on your posts Dani.

[sui]

I definitely agree that self-discipline can become an obsession, when you want to control EVERYTHING and thus never have any fun. Everything in moderation, after all-- a good balance between self-discipline and letting yourself relax is good, in my opinion.

By the way, I gave Positively Present an award in my latest post :]

[positively present]

Heidi - You're welcome! Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment!

Syd - I agree that it's important to be disciplined, but also to allow for spontaneity in one's life. I hope you've been enjoying your vacation!

Sui - Discipline can absolutely become an obsession, and I think there needs to be a balance between being disciplined and being able to just go with the flow. Thanks so much for the award! :)

[Clearly Composed]

Self discipline works for me when I keep my focus on the experience and not the results. Setting up a schedule and forcing myself to do it if it isn't aligned with my purpose doesn't work for me. I also agree with what was said above regarding leaving room for spontaneity. I am a quote collector and those are some great ones. :)

[positively present]

CC - That's a great point. Focusing on experience, rather than results, provides for a completely different type of self-discipline (and highlights one of my favorite concepts of living in the moment!). I'm glad you liked the quotes!

[Steph]

I have recently discovered your blog and I want to tell you how VERY much I appreciate the content and the quality of your presentation. Thanks very much for sharing this wonderful material and your terrific voice.

[Chania Girl]

At least for me, and maybe for a lot of people, self-discipline often sounds a lot like "RULES" which sounds a lot like "LAW." And right away, I inwardly buck and stomp and want to throw off its bridle.

But this view is only true if we look at law as an outwardly imposed set of standards that assumes our deficiencies and attempts to make us better. But what if we saw self-discipline not as an externally imposed law but as an inwardly released expression of self-love? An honoring?

The whole spirit of the thing would change ... and that would - COULD - change everything.

[positively present]

Steph - I'm so happy you've found Positively Present! :) I love writing and sharing what I'm learning about life with others so it really thrills me to receive comments like yours, from a reader who really appreciates the site. Thank you for stopping by and commenting!

Chania Girl - Hahaha, I know what you mean about "rules" and "laws." I'm the type to resist those things too -- but I've tried to think of self-discipline as a positive thing, not as something that has to be done or enforced on me. I like the idea of thinking of self-discipline as an "inwardly-released expression of self-love." Brilliant!

[positively present]

For some reason, commenter Michael Y. was unable to post his comment. Here's what he emailed to me: "A most clever and important post! Once Seneca wrapped these ideas in a great quote : 'The strongest is that person, who is able to control himself.'" Thank you, Michael, for your comment and for sharing that great quote with me and other readers!

[HappinessandWisdom]

I think the very phrase - self discipline - sets people up for failure. It sounds so unpleasant. Changing the focus to I WANT is key in my opinion. Setting daily goals that are aligned with long-term desires (health, fitness, wealth, connectedness) and focusing on why we WANT such things, helps immensely. Instead of saying I need to do XX, saying I WANT to do XX, for A,B,C reasons, changes things completely. Might be nonsense to some, but it's been very helpful for me.
I'm curious - any more room on that blogroll for a fan of yours?!!
Michael

[J.D. Meier]

> Success is possible only when you can master your own emotions, appetites, and inclinations
I like that. So simple, but so brilliant and spot on.

[positively present]

H&W - I agree that the phrase "self-discipline" can be very off-putting, making us want to run from it rather than embrace it. I like the idea of using the "I want" phrase. When you think about the things really want, the things that matter most to you, and focus on those things, you're much more likely to live your life in a manner that will help you achieve those goals. Great comment. Thanks!

J.D. - That quote is definitely a simple but brilliant one. It is difficult to master our own emotions, appetites, and inclinations, but I believe that when we do so we really do open ourselves up to be very successful at whatever we set our minds to!

[Steph]

Thanks so much, Dani. I read more of your site last night and I have to say I am even more impressed and completely hooked. I, too, have been slowly working my way out of long-entrenched patterns of negative thinking that have been an obstacle in my life.

As for self-discipline, I think it's tricky. Ten years ago I was a high-level endurance runner. I would definitely say that self-discipline veered into obsession for me and that it wasn't healthy. I was constantly beating up on myself for not reaching a rather mythical standard that I'd set for myself. That said, I think that training became an obsession because there were so many other gaps in my self-esteem at the time that I became dependent on the running to give me some sense of personal value. These days I am trying to choose activities out of love/passion rather than need or in the hope of receiving external validation, and so I am hoping that my proven ability to self-discipline will become an asset rather than a detriment.

Thanks again for your terrific website. Have a great day! Stephanie

[Liara Covert]

One chooses to assume something is easy or hard. The imagined experience follows. To sense life is easy, triggers shifts in perception and discernment.

[positively present]

Steph - Thanks so much for your comment! I'm so glad you're enjoying Positively Present and that you can relate to my goal to overcome negative thinking. With regard to what you wrote about self-discipline, you got exactly what I was trying to get at with the questions at the bottom of the post. Being disciplined is great, but it can turn into an obsession if not managed properly. I'm glad you shared your experience with this here. Thanks!

Liara - Very interesting comment. It's so interesting to think about how people perceive the world and how those perceptions then impact their experiences.

[whitney]

hahahaha, post the whole book for us!! ;) j/k, i have added it to my wishlist, ty.

best in Christ,
whitney

[positively present]

Whitney - Haha, I did give you quite a bit of information from the book! But that's the thing -- there is SO much great info in there that this doesn't even come close to covering all you can learn from it. Hope you get a chance to check it out!