“It is better to conquer yourself than to win a thousand battles. Then the victory is yours. It cannot be taken from you, not by angels or by demons, heaven or hell.”
Buddha

Discipline is a concept which comes from your mind — a thinking form of structure, imposed from the outside when your will is fragile – when your generator is idling or low, rather than going strong. Sometimes, you need a bit of discipline or structure when your will is fragile — however your inner will ought not to be confused with its catalyst or helper — discipline. Will is not discipline. Will is inner. Discipline is outer. Here’s an example: I am on a health program that tests my nutritional needs and supplement needs and then tells me what foods are best for me to eat and what vitamins and minerals are best for me to take. Sometimes my will is so strong. It is so easy to follow my program. And sometimes I find I have to go to my mind or intellect which knows this program the best thing for me and impose discipline on myself. This is not how I like to do it. It’s hard and makes me want to rebel – almost as if some mean parent is making me do something. It’s as if the self-imposed discipline is a loving parent that will put the tired child to bed even though the child thinks it would rather stay up and watch TV.

If will is your inner source, it comes from a Power greater than yourself. (Uh oh. Is she talking about God?) Well, it can be God or it can just be all those people for whom this works. Alternatively, it can also be a belief in higher principles. Therefore, without that power – Great Creator, God, Universe, Good, Group consciousness, etc., we do not have contact with the will. You may have to use some outer discipline, until the inner inspiration takes over.

WILL = INNER = SOURCE
DISCIPLINE = OUTER = MIND

A fully functioning will is the source of true willpower.

UNSATISFIED NEEDS OFTEN AFFECT WILLINGNESS. FOR THAT REASON, IT IS THE PERFECT TIME TO TAKE STOCK OF YOUR NEEDS.

**Excerpt from You University: Coaching Program to Learn to Live Your Real Self © by Maia Berens