第14部分(第2/6 頁)

eters；　she　related　a　conversation　her　daughter　had　with　a　family　friend。

“Do　you　like　swimming？”　the　friend　asked。

“Yes；　I　love　it。”

“Is　it　fun？”

“No！”

That　six…year…old　had　learned　what　many　adults　never　experience：　the　joy　of　discipline　and　self…development。　Unfortunately；　the　very　word　discipline　puts　us　off　because　it　sounds　restrictive　and　punitive—like　a　truant　officer　stalking　us　to　make　sure　we　toe　the　line。　True　discipline　isn’t　on　your　back　needling　you　with　imperatives；　it　is　at　your　side；　nudging　you　with　incentives。　When　you　understand　that　discipline　is　self…caring；　not　self…castigating；　you　won’t　cringe　at　its　mention；　but　will　cultivate　it。

Charley　Boswell；　a　former　University　of　Alabama　football　star　with　hopes　of　a　professional　baseball　career；　lost　his　eyesight　in　World　War　II；　but　that　didn’t　stop　him“to　bee　the　National　Blind　Golf　Champion　17　times。”　He　was　quoted　as　saying；“I　never　count　what　I’ve　lost。　I　only　count　what　I　have　left。”　That　is　self…development—that　is　discipline。

Habit…changing　strategies　Many　a　person’s　downfall　es　in　trying　to　change　a　bad　habit　by　focusing　on　an　undesirable　behavior　to　replace　it。

Countless　people　tell　me　they　would　like　to　eat　better　but　don’t　want　to　“give　up”　tasty　food。　Rather　than　thinking　about　what　they　can’t　have；　they　should　think　about　what　they　can　eat。　Fruit　juice　with　sparkling　mineral　water　is　a　delicious　substitute　for　high…calorie　soft　drinks；　snacks　and　cookies　prepared　with　whole　grains　and　fried　fruits　give　candy　bars　good　petition。

It　isn’t　easy　to　change　old　habits。　An　overweight　woman　came　to　me　during　a　seminar　and　said；　“I’m　so　undisciplined。　I　can’t　stick　to　a　diet　and　my　house　is　always　a　mess。　I　feel　like　a　slob。”　I　told　her