Self-discipline (Christianity)

By disciplining himself in exercises of restraint, such as fasting or abstinence, the individual strengthens his will to be able to follow a spiritual path. This discipline is, in Christian terms, a response to self-love and it results in freedom, that of the spirit to dominate the personality.

Self-discipline commences with an effort of will towards self-purification, "putting off the old man", as St Paul puts it, through conversion and repentance, followed by the "putting on of Christ", the new self. It continues through fasting, almsgiving and prayer, the three duties of asceticism in the three areas of duty - to one's self, to man and to God. This is a continuous process, requiring endurance, readiness to meet emergencies, vigilance, sobriety and courage. By exercise of these qualities, the new personality or self attains full development and arrives at true spiritual liberty.

Although self-discipline gives the individual power to do great things, to endure and achieve much, it is through the mundane, obvious or trivial duties that control of appetite and strengthening of will are fostered. For spiritual freedom it is necessary not to be the slave of one's appetites. Permanently gratifying one's appetites puts them in a position of tyrants. The impression that one is real is a delusion, compulsions have actually reduced one to a shadow of a genuine person. The contemplative life, for example, requires learning to survive without habit-forming luxuries.