Wikipedia defines self-discipline as “…the training that one gives one’s self to accomplish a certain task or to adopt a particular pattern of behaviour, even though one would really rather be doing something else.”
That last bit about really wanting to do something else, is the exact reason why self-discipline is SO hard.
On a bad day for self-discipline a diabetic might have the junk food they are desiring and on a good day, they are able to deny it.
What if it didn’t have to be so hard? What if instead of always disciplining ourselves we just did what we want-and what we want also just happen to be the best thing for us to do?
Wikipedia defines a paradigm shift as “the notion of a major change in a certain thought-pattern — a radical change in personal beliefs, complex systems or organizations, replacing the former way of thinking or organizing with a radically different way of thinking or organizing”
What if we believed deep down that we didn’t want that junk food because of all the negative things it would mean for our bodies? Would we still be disciplining ourselves to deny it when offered to us or would we simply be doing what we wanted? And if so, what is easier to do? What we want to do or what we don’t want to do?
Exactly.
Thus what every diabetic whose diabetes management can be improved needs is…a paradigm shift.
Our personal belief system must be set in stone on the following:
1. That we DESERVE to be as healthy as a non-diabetic
2. That it is POSSIBLE to be as healthy as a non-diabetic
3. And that we have the POWER to be as healthy as a non-diabetic
How many of us believe these three things deep deep down? Not many right?
How could we? Diabetes kicks the self-confidence, hope, and energy out of us on a daily basis, making it challenging to really believe we have the ability to be extremely healthy and happy.
No one said a paradigm shift was easy. A few things about a successful shift are true:
1. A paradigm shift takes a varied amount of time
2. A paradigm shift takes consistency
3. A paradigm shift takes energy
Maintaining energy, maintaining that energy consistently, and doing so for an unknown period of time is never easy. If you tell me to run 4 laps around the track I can do it. If you tell me to start running and only tell me that I will stop when you say so, I will have a tough time running longer than a few minutes.
When I experienced a paradigm shift regarding my diabetes control what happened? A number of things:
1. Eating healthy was enjoyable and an easy choice to make-most every single time.
2. Exercise was desired and so I consistently and happily worked it into my schedule.
3. Being in public and around others while practicing good diabetes management was easy because I had the confidence to do so and there was no doubt in my mind as to why I shouldn’t take care of myself.
In turn, my A1c dropped to non-diabetic levels for the first time.
And it took a lot less effort than all the times before when my A1c was high and I struggled to always do the right things for my diabetes.
This is because before, I didn’t want to do the right things. They were hard, no fun, and time consuming.
Now, I want to eat right, exercise, check my blood sugar when needed, and do what I have to do whenever I have to do it, regardless of where I am. This is how I turned my health around.
Read this post one more time and check out Diabetes, self-discipline, and a paradigm shift Part 2 where I share HOW you can have a paradigm shift so powerful you will be on the road to much improved diabetes management.
There is so much to gain with great diabetes management.
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