Courtney Burkholder

For many Christians, yesterday, Ash Wednesday, marked the first day of Lent, the 40 days prior to Easter when we prepare ourselves for the Holy Week. Lent is a season of prayer, reflection, and repentance. It is a time to take stock of our lives and do some serious soul searching. In the tradition of Lent, Christians deny themselves something they enjoy, and in doing so, discipline their wills so that we do not become slaves to our pleasures.

Many times over the years, I have started off Lent with a bang, armed with a slew of foods, activities, or “words” that I vowed not to eat, do, or say for the next 40 days. My intentions were good; my objectives honorable. But my goals often lacked substance. Sometimes, I made exceptions for myself. I would give up fried foods, but not tortilla chips. I would give up drinking, except on my best friend’s birthday. I would give up all cursing, except for the “d” word which really isn’t a curse word since it’s used in the Bible. My follow-through also lacked something to be desired.

I rarely made it through the first couple of weeks before my resolve wavered, and I reverted back to my old, selfish ways and habits.

I justified this by saying that eating a piece of fried chicken didn’t really make me a bad person.

And it doesn’t.

But self-discipline is one of the most important character traits a person can have. Discipline is defined as “training expected to produce a specific character or pattern of behavior, especially training that produces moral or mental improvement.”

By disciplining ourselves and exercising restraint, we make ourselves stronger, more productive people. It’s not about eating chips or drinking wine. It’s about learning to exercise control in areas of our lives where we tend to be out of control. Think of the people you go to when you really need something done; those you want on your committee or in charge of an important event. They typically have one thing in common: self discipline.

Becoming a disciplined person is empowering. It allows you to be in charge of your life, rather than letting your life and vices run you. It takes courage and self awareness to admit that there are aspects of your life that need to be taken in hand.

Whether you actively practice religion or not, Lent is a wonderful time of year to train your mental strength and make important changes in your life. Lent lasts for only 40 days, but the positive changes we initiate during that time can be the beginning of a whole new life.

Lent is the Old English word for spring: a time of new beginnings and fresh starts. What a great time to say goodbye to bad habits and hello to a mentally stronger you.