Are you Disciplined or Devoted?
By thefortunes
@thefortunes (2367)
Netherlands
September 25, 2007 3:33am CST
Most of you know that Luciano Pavarotti, the great Italian tenor, died recently. There is a famous quote of his which inspired me to start this discussion:"People think I'm disciplined. It is not discipline. It is devotion. There is a great difference."Luciano Pavarotti
1935-2007 Opera Singer
You see, I am devoted to the things I love to do, and very much so. At the start at least I am. My problem begins when I get bored because I do not see the results that I was expecting. From than on my discipline takes over, so that I don't stop after having spent so much time and work on the project. What I have found though, is that when you stop believing, all hope to bring the project to an overwhelming success is mostly nil. You could make it ok, but all sweat and tears will not be paid, as the result will remain mediocre at best.
I was wondering what do you think, or know yourself, are you disciplined or devoted in what you do for your work, job, university? And how long would you go one before giving up, if you don't see the expected results in a reasonable duration?TheFortunes
1 person likes this
8 responses
@mimpi1911 (25464)
• India
25 Sep 07
Firstly, thanks for sharing this with us.
Fortunes, I feel Devotion is something divine and discipline is something earthly. There is certainly a level of difference between doing something we love and doing something out of compulsion. herein lies the difference between devotion and discipline.
I am not a OKAY kind who would satisfy herself in only doing things right. It has to be elevating it to the level of non-pareil. I was a perfectionist and would never settle without a bit less. This is good and bad as well. My pursuit of the best has left me alone and in a different lane altogether. While all appreciate it but a few can relate to me. It feels sad. However, I have become more lenient now, knowing the graftification is in the process of doing rather than in accomplishing. I have leant a lesson, we can say.
smiles...
PS: Pavarotti is one of my favorites. Thanks for paying tribute through this post.
@thefortunes (2367)
• Netherlands
26 Sep 07
Thanks Mimpi1911 for your great contribution in this discussion :) BTW, I was and am still a prefectionist, and very much so, and I agree with what you said above in regards. It makes life more difficult, especially when feeling alone. On the other hand I don't mind solitude as I always think -better alone than in bad company :) and it doesn't make me sad really. I still am after accomplishments, even though I have taken the road of "being more patient..." ;)
Pavarotti and his CD's have been on in my office for the last few weeks and it was only natural to start this discussion. Thanks again for a great responce on this one, and you deserved the BR with it :)
TheFortunes
@mimpi1911 (25464)
• India
29 Sep 07
I really appreciate your attitude. Never succuumb for less as there are ppl who do not do it and are happy and its our way to be happy. Kudos to you and just be the happy kind. Wish you luck.
smiles..
@thefortunes (2367)
• Netherlands
30 Sep 07
Thank you Mimpi1911 - and I am blushing from the pleasure :)
TheFortunes
@fortunebee (509)
• Philippines
29 Sep 07
I may have a funny way of showing discipline. When it comes to time, discipline lags behind but because of devotion and the love for something, one way or the other, you will go back to what you were doing. It is true that what makes you work harder and better is when you take your attention away from what you are doing, it is not called undisciplined if you see someone do this, but you should consider this as rejuvenating one's soul/self or diversion and getting back to work with more creativity at hand.
Because of devotion, you become disciplined to reconsider what you really want in life and what you enjoy doing.
@thefortunes (2367)
• Netherlands
29 Sep 07
Hi Fortunebee, this was a very good answer inr this discussion, and thanks a lot for sharing your views, with which I agree by the way :)
TheFortunes
@TDonald (1421)
• United States
26 Sep 07
To be devoted implies that you are doing something because you love to do it.
While...
Discipline implies a sense of duty or even punishment. A forced regimen.
Of course it could be said that disciple may be required at the beginning of an endeavour. And as skill develops devotion replaces discipline.
@thefortunes (2367)
• Netherlands
27 Sep 07
Hi TDonald, and thank you for your contribution in thi sone too :) LOL (about the ...even a punishment :)) yup, especially after awhile of struggling, like 1 step forward and 2 steps back - it becomes a punishment, for the impatient person especially :)
TheFortunes
@candiec2005 (828)
• United States
25 Sep 07
I am disciplined. Thanks to my mom who taught me discipline. My job is not that much fun (I'm a paralegal) so in order to survive in this field, one has to be disciplined. And I am. I've been doing this for about 7 years.
@thefortunes (2367)
• Netherlands
26 Sep 07
Hi Candiec2005
and discipline is needed in many fields, and there is nothing with it. You're lucky your mother taught you how to :)
TheFortunes
@anuj291 (575)
• India
27 Sep 07
i very good discussion my frnd
i think both the words are very important,,cuz to do somethin perfectlty and in the most efficient manner,,i guess u need a bit of both,,cuz if u r devoted then u will put in effort and will reallu think about the stuff,,and if u r disciplined then u will put all ur energy and thoughts in a correct direction
so both neccesary,,and i guess i lack both of them....lol
thnx and tc
keep postin/ratin
@thefortunes (2367)
• Netherlands
28 Sep 07
Heheheh, why do you accept it dear friend the lack of both? You could change it you know? If you dont like it - nothing stops you from changing it, trust me, if you try - it will do you lots of good :)
TheFortunes
@lgwlong (199)
• China
26 Sep 07
i totally agree with Luciano Pavatotti,there are big differance between disciplin and devotion,just the discipline cannot make someone do some thing in his or her whole life
@thefortunes (2367)
• Netherlands
27 Sep 07
No, but the majority of us keep living a medicre life due to obligations mostly, and not being to pursue the dreams that do not bring the needed cash for survival in these jungle of life :)
TheFortunes
@twoey68 (13627)
• United States
21 Mar 08
This is actually pretty close to home with me although it doesn't pertain to work. I started quilting years ago...I taught myself how. I threw myself into it buying tons of fabric and supplies. Everyone loved them and wanted one but they take ALOT of work to do.
Year before last, I made two...one for my Niece who was 11 and one for my Nephew who was 9. My Nephew adored his right from the start and was very happy with it. My Niece didn't like hers...it wasn't what she wanted. My feelings were crushed. I put all my quilting stuff away and didn't touch it for months. A friend of mine started asking me to make a couple little ones for her two girls and I kept putting it off and finally I told her why I didn't want to do it. She really encouraged me to do it and though it took awhile I am back to doing it and happy with it again.
I will keep doing it as long as I'm happy with it and am physically able to.
!!HAPPY EASTER!!
**AT PEACE WITHIN**
~~STAND STRONG IN YOUR BELIEFS~~
@Bunsdk (242)
• Denmark
25 Sep 07
Im working pretty much like you, but playing guitar showed me how I can change.
I started playing guitar by just buying one after a soccer accident that left me bedbound for 3 months.
At the start my devotion to learning was immense. But as I constantly hit bumps in the road later on. Found that my progression in learning stopped, I got bored with playing for a while.
After a weeks time I could then come back to the guitar and then suddenly it didnt actually seem that hard anymore, and I had yet another spurt of progression and learned tons... and hit a wall again.
This taught me that usual thing that I normally dont go thinking about.
It is actually good sometimes to get some distance and perspective, to reinlighting the spirit about what you were doing.
I now try to incoperate it into most things I do.
@thefortunes (2367)
• Netherlands
26 Sep 07
Thank you Bunsdk for your contribution, and I might try what you are saying here too :)
TheFortunes
