Here are three hang-ups to self-discipline and three keys to overcoming them.

Hang-up #1 — Discipline equals punishment. One reason discipline can have a negative connotation is that when you were disciplined by a parent or a boss, that usually is meant as a punishment of some sort. But self-discipline is not an exercise in self-punishment, it is about making conscious decisions about your choices instead of just doing what is easy or succumbing to immediate gratification.

Key # 1 — When faced with a choice, instead of looking at an immediate reward, look down the road to what you ultimately want.

Hang-up #2 — You should get immediate positive results. It can be difficult to stick with something because most actions don’t have immediate results, whether positive or negative. When you eat a doughnut, for example, you don’t immediately put on weight, develop diabetes, or have heart problems. But over time, if you eat doughnuts every day, these could be potential long-term consequences. When you exercise, you aren’t immediately fit. But if you continue exercising regularly, this could be the long-term benefit.

Key #2 — Determine what actions will lead to what you want in the long run, and where possible, turn these actions into habits. There is a compounding effect on your actions, whether positive or negative. It is in your best interest to discipline yourself to make intentional choices that lead to what you want and to avoid the habitual negative choices that take you away from your goal.

Hang-up #3 — Your good actions should always be enjoyable. Another struggle is to think that activities that ultimately lead to what you want should always be enjoyable. That is not the case. You may never enjoy getting up an hour earlier to exercise, you may never enjoy flossing your teeth, or you may always feel nervous before you get up to speak. Sometimes you must wait a long time to experience the joy of success.

Key #3 — To strengthen your resolve, think about a compelling “why.” Why do you want to do a specific activity, and why you want a particular result? Realize that the actions leading up to this result are not always going to be easy, let your compelling “why” motivate you through the hard times.

We all face a myriad of decisions every day, and we make choices that either lead us toward or away from what we ultimately want. Self-discipline is the ability to meet these decisions with choices that are beneficial in the long run. Develop the skill of self-discipline. Look down the road to what you ultimately want, instead of looking for immediate gratification. Determine what actions will lead to this result and make them a habit. Realize that these actions may not always be enjoyable. Keep yourself motivated by thinking about “why” you want your end result. Invest in your future self. When all is said and done, be the one who got things done.