What makes resolutions so difficult to keep, despite their enormous popularity? Assuming that our goals aren’t unrealistic or vague, there’s only one reason that keeps anyone from persisting in their resolve—failing at self-discipline. But not anymore.
In this month’s cover story, authors and Zen practitioners Cheri Huber and Ashwini Narayanan turn the traditional concept of self-discipline on its head. Pointing to the problems of the old idea of self-discipline, they tell us why it is designed to fail from the beginning. The authors then introduce us to what they call Compassionate Self-Discipline—a counter-intuitive technique that is gentle and non-judgemental. Their way helps us to transcend the real reasons that keep us stuck, and puts us on a path of self-mastery.
