The Power of Choice: How Discipline Shapes Our Happiness

Suffering is optional.

In a really interesting interview with my friend Cy Wakeman, a New York Times best-selling author and drama researcher, Cy talked about her life and what she’s learned about the power of choice.

Cy grew up in a family of business owners, and she had a lot of tough times. She learned how to put her own needs aside and keep things peaceful. But even in the middle of all that, she realized something important— that we can choose to be happy and kind, even when things are hard. Cy had her own problems to deal with. Her parents got divorced when she was in high school, which was really tough. But she found ways to feel free and better, and she saw how much change can help.

Looking back on her life, Cy talked about how important it is to become a better leader by working on ourselves. She said we should understand where we come from, think about how our early experiences affect us, and see how they shape what we do and believe. By looking at our past and thinking about our stories, we can learn things that help us become better leaders.

While listening to Cy’s amazing words, her story reminded me that no matter how big our problems, we can decide to be happy and fulfilled. That means we need to be really good at making choices and having discipline so our way of thinking matches how we want to feel. I learned this from Abdul, who showed me how important choices and discipline are.

Watching Abdul during practices made me realize I can always choose what to do. I can either stay focused on my goals and be disciplined, or I can go for things that give me quick happiness but don’t last long. Abdul’s strong dedication to his work taught me that we don’t have to suffer if we don’t want to. We have control over how we feel by the choices we make and how we think.

Abdul’s teachings were a lot like what Cy said. They showed me that growing as a person is really important. Both of their stories came together for me, reminding me how powerful discipline and making smart choices can be. If we use discipline and pick things that match what we care about and want, we can have a good life full of happiness and meaning.

People like Abdul and Cy have taught me that real happiness isn’t just something you reach someday. It’s how you live your life. To make that happen, we have to be good at making choices and having discipline. We need to face problems and choose to get better instead of staying the same. Thinking about their wisdom makes me want to use the power of choice and discipline in my own journey of learning about myself and growing as a person.

Reflection

In which aspect of your life are you finding your- self drawn to the appeal of immediate gratification and fleeting pleasure? What specific steps will you take within the next 48 hours to ensure that you stay on the path of self-discipline?

(**Excerpt from my latest book, "Lessons from Abdul: The Hidden Power of Receiving from Anyone, Anytime")

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About Robb Holman

Robb Holman is a sought-after Global Keynote Speaker and Author of four transformational leadership books, Lead the Way, All In, Move the Needle, and his upcoming book, Lessons from Abdul. In recognition of his expertise, Robb was named one of the world's top 30 leadership speakers by Global Gurus for three consecutive years (2022-present). His innovative Inside Out Leadership philosophy has gained significant recognition and has been featured in publications like Inc, Forbes, and Fast Company. You can visit Robb by going here.