S8.Bonus 10 | From Motivation to Mastery: Embracing the Spirit of Self-Discipline in Christian Living
In this bonus episode of Affirming Truth, host Carla Arges delves into the crucial role of discipline in cultivating habits of thriving, especially when life throws curveballs. Carla shares insights on harnessing the power of self-discipline, rooted in biblical principles, to overcome challenges and live abundantly.
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Key Takeaways
Foundational Habits of Thriving:
Carla emphasizes the significance of habits such as Bible study, movement, balanced nutrition, and affirmations in nurturing a thriving life, regardless of circumstances.
Shift from Motivation to Discipline:
Relying on motivation alone is insufficient. Embracing self-discipline, a fruit of the spirit, empowers individuals to master their thoughts, actions, and responses to life's challenges.
The Spiritual Element of Discipline:
By aligning with the spirit of self-discipline bestowed by God, individuals can fortify themselves against adversity, standing firm in their faith and purpose.
Understanding the Why:
Carla encourages listeners to introspect and delve into the heart of why thriving is important to them, elucidating how a disciplined approach becomes easier when rooted in profound personal significance.
Connect With Carla:
Inquire about 1:1 coaching ---> carlaagreswellness@gmail.com
Renewing Hope Course —-> https://www.carlaarges.com/renewing-hope
Come hangout on IG with me @carlaarges
Check out the blog
Resources:
5 Steps to Building Resiliency
Affirming Truths Facebook Community
5 Tips for Overcoming a Negative Body Image
Who You Say I Am Biblical Affirmation Cards
TRANSCRIPT
Carla Arges [00:00:08]:
Hey friends, welcome to affirming truth. I'm your friend and host, Carla Arges. This show is a safe place to share our struggles, grow in faith, and root our identity in Christ. My hope is that you will leave each episode feeling encouraged in your journey. Subscribe so you don't miss an episode. And it would mean the world to me if you would leave a review. I am so glad you're here. Let's get started.
Carla Arges [00:00:35]:
Hello friends.
Carla Arges [00:00:36]:
Welcome to this bonus episode of Affirming Truth. I am your host, Carla Arges, fresh off vacation and happy to be here with you today. I was just away in Dublin, Ireland, with my son doing a mother and son bonding trip, and it was amazing. The weather wasn't great, but it's Ireland. But the trip was amazing. Here's the thing that happens when we take holidays, though, or when we get sick, or when life happens, our routines and our habits get interrupted. Now, this is something that I talk about with my one on one clients. It's something I talk about in renewing hope course, that having habits of thriving are crucial.
Carla Arges [00:01:23]:
So getting in the word Bible study, movement, eating to support your mood, getting the right amount of rest, like these habits, saying your affirmations right, being in daily practice of taking your thoughts captive, these habits, these behaviors are foundational for thriving in life, regardless of what circumstances you face. And so it can be really hard to get back to them after they've been interrupted. And this is something that my clients struggle with, and I struggle with, too. And here is some reality for us all, myself included. When we have to get back to our habits, we cannot rest and rely on motivation. I hear this so often from clients, and this used to be my diatribe myself, where it's like I just don't feel like it. I don't feel motivated. I don't feel like I want to do it.
Carla Arges [00:02:29]:
I'm stuck in lethargy. I'm not motivated. And I hear that time and time and time again. And friends, I want to encourage you that you cannot allow yourself to be feelings led when it comes to the foundational habits that shape your life. And those are foundational habits. In two Timothy one seven, it says, for God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. Now, in a lot of other translations, it says, of power and of love and of self discipline, because it does require self discipline to have that sound mind, because we have to discipline our mind in the same fashion we have to discipline ourselves to do that which we know we ought to do. God did not give us a spirit of motivation.
Carla Arges [00:03:29]:
God did not give us a spirit of feeling like it. God gave us a spirit of discipline. Self control is also one of the fruits of the spirit, right? So this is what God is producing in us. Not motivation, not feeling like it, but discipline. You have to discipline yourself. You have to take charge over yourself. You have to learn to master yourself. Do you hear me? You have to learn to master yourself.
Carla Arges [00:04:05]:
God has given us a spirit of self discipline. God, through the Holy Spirit, works out fruits of the spirit that include self discipline. So if you are lacking in doing the foundational habits that you want to do, I want to ask you, how's your discipline? How's your discipline? Are you waiting for motivation? Are you waiting to be feelings led? Or are you mastering your life with the authority given to you in Christ Jesus to walk out? Discipline in your life? This is crucial. How can you expect to discipline your mind? How can you expect to discipline yourself when temptation comes? How can you expect to withstand the shaking when the enemy comes against you? If you are not disciplined to stand, if you are not disciplined to do the things that you need to do so you can show up the way God has intended you to show up. If you're not taking care of your mind, body, and spirit, you are not facilitating the right environment to show up and do all that God has destined you to do. It's discipline. We are warriors in the kingdom of God. What do warriors lean on? Motivation? No.
Carla Arges [00:05:29]:
Discipline and training. You have to train yourself and be disciplined in doing that. And I often find a great way to tap into that discipline is to really foundationally understand why you need to do what you need to do. What does it mean to you to thrive in your life, even in the face of struggle? How does thriving versus barely surviving impact your life? How does your life go when you walk from a place of empowerment versus from a place of defeat? How does your motherhood look when you're thriving versus surviving? How does your marriage look when you're thriving versus surviving? How does your work look when you're thriving versus just surviving? Right. And when we see how much better our life is when we are in a position to thrive, then being disciplined to do those thriving behaviors is easier. It's easier. It's easier to be disciplined, to do.
Carla Arges [00:06:43]:
Something that you really, really want. Do you really want to thrive? Do you really want to be the.
Carla Arges [00:06:52]:
Best mom you can be? And this isn't about guilt and shame. It's not to say it comes easy. It's not to say that if you struggle in this area, that means you don't really, really want that stuff, but it means that you have to tap into it layers deep to the heart of what it means to you to live an overcoming life to the heart of what it means for you to live a life abundant in the Lord. And this is where discipline comes in. First day back from my holiday, I got my walk in, I got my workout in, I got my Bible study in. I'm showing up for you guys in this podcast. I'm showing up for my family. I didn't feel motivated, but I knew the longer I put off getting into the routine, the bigger the door opening.
Carla Arges [00:07:43]:
I was allowing for the enemy to come at me with anxiety, with depression, with lethargy, with doubt, with worry. The longer I put off doing the habits of thriving, the greater opportunity I'm giving for the enemy to come and shake me. When I am in my bible every day, I'm empowered by the spirit in a fresh way. The enemy can't shake me. When I'm moving my body and eating in accordance to supporting my mood and my energy, I show up with more patience. The enemy can't fluster me with a change in plans or new news when I get the right sleep and I prioritize rest. Not just rest at night, but a rhythm of rest throughout my day where there's moments of abiding with God. I have so much trust and faith in who he is.
Carla Arges [00:08:50]:
The enemy can't shake me. But when I don't do those things, when I allow motivation to be my driver rather than discipline, I'm more easily shaken. I don't live in the abundance of peace and joy and love and grace that God has for me. So my question to you is, do you want to be mastered by motivation or do you want to master your life through discipline? Quite simple. You will not get as far as where you want to go with just motivation alone. Sure, days that you feel motivated are great. It comes easily, right? Motivation is a great way to kick start something. Sure.
Carla Arges [00:09:40]:
But motivation does not last. And if you want to last, you have to get disciplined. So one of the things that I teach in my one on one clients, I actually have two openings for one on one clients. In April. You can go to carlarges.com and book a discovery call or find me on Instagram at Carla Arges and slide into my DMs. We can work through this together in establishing those habits, in uncovering what the roadblocks are to establishing those habits. Often when we continue to self sabotage these habits of thriving, there is a root cause, and it goes back to core beliefs in our thinking about ourselves. So this is why we always address those things in one on one coaching as well.
Carla Arges [00:10:29]:
But you cannot rest on motivation. You have to lean into the spirit that God has given you of self discipline and work that out in your life every day so that you can thrive and live in the abundance God has for you. I'll talk to you next time.
Carla Arges [00:10:54]:
Thanks for joining me today. I hope we're already friends on social media, but for not come find me on Instagram at Carla Arges or at affirming truth. Can't wait to see you back here next week.
Carla Arges [00:11:07]:
Bye friends.