Discipline - Power to Control
“You are what you have fed” - Adeolu Akinyemi
When we were all born, we all had a clean slate. A clean state in terms of experiences, knowledge, and cravings. We had no idea of the meals we’ll love, nor the people we’ll be friendly with, nor the books we’ll read. We had a clean slate, then we started feeding.
As human beings we are a body, a soul and a spirit, the center peice of the human being is the soul. The soul is the sit of the human will, and takes instructions from the spirit or the body. The spirit is infinite while the body is limited. The cravings of the spirit are longterm oriented, while the cravings of the flesh are short term focused. The demands of the body are louder, the requests of the spirit man is with a still and small voice. The demands of the body are usually at logger heads with the demands of the human spirit, and these two are regularly at war.
Our eventual identity is the result of what we have fed. If you feed your flesh, your results will be limited to the limits of the flesh - corruption and decay. If you feed your spirit you will reap the limits of the spirit, which is infinite and eternal. You (ideally your soul) loses power to whichever of these two potential lords it feeds.
In case you are wondering what you have been giving control, examine the following questions.
1. What level of control can you exercise over food? When your body craves to be fed, what do you do? Do you find it easy to skip your meals to concentrate and focus on other areas of your life? When you feel hungry can you hold out for much longer? Have you never considered these questions because you’ve always fed your hunger for food? What you can’t control grows without limit, and eventually controls you.
2. What level of control do you exercise over your temper? When you feel offended or hurt by what someone else did, do you heed to the cravings to give it back in same measure? How much control do you have over your angered emotions? When was the last time you deliberately refused to express the anger that you bitterly felt? If you can’t manage your temper, it will destroy you.
3. What level of control do you exercise over your sexuality? Is it everytime the opportunity presents itself that you tap into it? When was the last time you had an opportunity you knew was wrong and you said No! When was the last time you refused to rationalize your values? Nothing quite devalues a human being like inability to manage his/her sexuality.
4. The windows to the soul from the body are the senses. The sight, the ears, the smell, the feelings and the taste. When was the last time you excused yourself from watching what would only hand over control to your body? When was the last time you refused to be a part of gist that was corrosive and defamotory to another persons character? When was the last time you refused to smell what you knew you mustn’t eat? When was the last time you had inordinate feelings and cravings for something and you held your grounds. When was the last time the situations around you shouted taste, drink and eat, and your knowledge of where the road would end kept you off? When? If you stumble into greatness, you will stumble out of it. If you got “there” without control, you will leave “there” without control.
5. When also did you push yourself to do what you body found difficult? When was the last time you evaluated your values and stuck with them. When was the last time you spoke the truth to your own hurt? When was the last time you went through pain just to help someone else out? When was the last time you took time out of your normal schedule to connect with God? When was the last time you fed your spirit?
Don’t get me wrong, the body is valuable, it’s value is however in playing it’s role, not in controlling your life. The best definition of discipline I’ve come across, is doing what you know you ought to do, whether or not you feel like it.
By answering the questions above, you should know who is in the drivers seat of your life, to take charge and direct your life well requires discipline. Start denying yourself some unnecessary gratifications today, celebrate your little victories and you’ll become a winner daily, and ultimately.
Hello. I am 
This line can serve as another header for this write up … If you got “there” without control, you will leave “there” without control.
I really needed to read something like this, cos i think i have not been disciplined for a while. Thanks for the piece.
The chair,
Thanks for putting the body,soul and spirit in crystal perspective.
I say it is indiscipline for any individual to claim to be 100% disciplined.
St Paul said”The good I want to do I find myself not doing,and that I dont want to do I end up doing”
Like Felix earlier said ,there is a bit of indiscipline in all of us.
A friend said just this morning that if he was a Governor, he will steal very little.I agreed with him that “the security vote” which Governors dont have to account for is actualy invitation to stealing.
Little stealing leads to unbiddled stealing.Baba Adedibu confirmed it.Imagine what % of Oyo’s security vote he gives to Akala!
We all have some weaknesses.Some weaknesses are so entrenched that one will keep pleading to God our creator to “let this cup pass over me”.
We should all however continue to strive to reduce this weaknesses and increase in the things our conscience tells us are the right ways.
Nothing can be more true that the body is always warring seriously with the spirit.
Discipline cut across every aspect of our life,if we can be discipline in all our dealing in life the world will be a better place to live.
Indiciplineas landed us as a Nation to where we found ourselves and it start right from our closet to the street,school,church,musque,bus stop,exam centers ,NYSC,market,local government till we get to the Ghana must go leaders and contract inflator reps and senator.
We all need no mortify the flesh so that we will not miss heaven eventually.
Power without control is like fire without control. It simply destroys. Within control, power is good. It is good to exercise control of power over these issues as highlighted by Deolu. It is not only good but also safe.
Thanks for this piece, it came at right time as always.
Discipline as a virtue is very crucial, i like the phrase “If you got “there” without control, you will leave “there” without control” how true.
Let us all take time to sink discipline as highlighted in this article into ourselves and let it be deep rooted in our minds then reflect in our actions, God will help us all.
Now i get it !thanks it came right on time. I understand better why one moves 1 step in the right direction & 10 in the wrong direction.
Really without control no progress is been made and you can get frustrated because surely if you get ‘there’ you will be out in no time : without control
@deolu
Thanks for another life changing piece you are giving everyone to feed one, keep going, you can never run-out of gas..cos God is your engine.
@ All
Control over everything we do in now life is the only key to succeeding.
This is just perfect.
I think it’s time I run a check up of my life ans see who is in control of what, after reading this write up I just know somebody is going to get fired (no mind av be watching “the apprentice” latetly.
See you all at the TOP!
Josh
@Deolu,
This piece really touched me & gave me a re-think about my life.
We must exercise control in everything we do.
hnmm, nice piece to meditate on! got me thinking.
This is a very good piece of work i believe it is worth publishing if not done already.
On my own i can’t but pass it on. It means a lot to anyone who takes time to read it.
Deolu, as a Nigerian i am proud of you.
All the best.
Great piece Brother, and timely one for that matter.
It is has been said that a man cannot rule his word until he is a master over his ownself.
How indiscipline has ruined some many youths today and has left a lot of things unaccomplished no wonder apostle Paul said in I Cor. 9:27 that he keeps under his body, and brings it into subjection lest that by any means, after he has preached to others himself should be a castaway.
I pray i will be guided by this philosophy as per your defination of discipline: TO DO WHAT I OUGHT TO DO, WHETHER OR NOT I FEEL LIKE IT. A pastor puts it this way ALWAYS ACT BETTER THAN YOU FEEL.
Many thanks, and more power to your able!
This reminds me of the passage in the scriptures that says’
For the weapons of our warfare are not canal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obidience of Christ”
People will say one is just being unnecessarily religious but is this simple truth not the key to a quality life?
It may not be easy,but it is possible. May God help us as we make efforts.
Thank you for the beautiful piece.
This is another good one, chairman.
It’s thought-provocking and incisive. It landed at the right place, just in time!
God bless you!
Kudos Deolu, this is very incisive, its food for thot and its worth to meditate on if only we could sit down to think or ponder on this germanne issue of life.A
nyway may God strengthen you and your family. my warmest regards to ARAOLUWA.
CHEERS
SUYI
This is the TRUTH and nothing but the
TRUTH. May d good Lord condinue to
uphld u.