Yesterday, something small happened that got me thinking about discipline. Here’s what happened:
It was a sunny Friday morning. I was walking to school, feeling good in the morning sun. But when I got to the school building, I realized I forgot my wallet, office key, and the card I need to open the door to the faculty area. I remembered rushing out of my house, which probably led to me forgetting these things.
I needed to get into the faculty wing, but the door was still locked. Luckily, someone from the IT department was nearby. I thought he could help me open the door. When I asked him, his first reaction surprised me. He asked, “Who are you?” with a very serious tone. I was confused because he has seen me many times in the past going into and out of the faculty wing with my card. With a mix of confusion and a smile, I responded, hoping for recognition. “Are you joking or serious? You’ve seen me here many times.” His unchanged expression and request for my name made me realize he was serious about needing to know who I was for security reasons.
This made me a bit upset and frustrating, but it also made me think about what being disciplined really means. Discipline is about being in control and consistent, like how I try to be with my daily routines and habits. But what about the IT person’s version of discipline? He was just following rules by not letting anyone in without proper identification. I respect his dedication to his job, but I wonder if such strict rules are necessary in a place like a business school, where community and support are important. As a business school faculty, not dealing with sensitive or confidential information, the necessity for such stringent security seemed excessive. A warmer approach, like “How can I help?” would have felt more welcoming.
The more I thought about it, the more I realized that discipline is important, but so is making connections with people. Helping each other, being kind, and creating a supportive environment are just as valuable. Yes, we need discipline to achieve our goals and maintain order. But we also need to remember the importance of being there for one another. While rules and routines are vital, so are empathy, kindness, and mutual support. I believe true discipline includes recognizing when to bend the rules to foster connections, aid others, and make our environment more welcoming.
This incident, though small, taught me a valuable lesson, a lesson about something bigger: the importance of balancing discipline with human connection. Discipline drives us toward goals and maintains order, but its the warmth of our interactions that enriches our life. We can be disciplined in our lives and work, but let’s not forget to also be kind and helpful. It’s these small acts of kindness that can make someone’s day better and make our communities stronger.
In the end, it’s about finding the right balance between following rules and being open to helping others. This balance is what can lead to a meaningful and fulfilling life.