Discipline as the Foundation for Success: Insights from Psychologist Filip Duhlii
In today’s rapidly changing world, where demands for preparing the younger generation continuously increase, the importance of cultivating personal qualities in children and adolescents becomes more evident than ever.
Psychological research and practitioner experience show that one of the key traits determining future success and self-fulfillment in adulthood is, above all, discipline.
The ability to systematically pursue set goals, adhere to rules, and maintain routines forms the foundation for developing responsibility and self-control.Psychologist Filip Duhlii, an expert with extensive research and consultancy experience in educational settings, emphasizes that motivation and enthusiasm are beneficial, but without the tool of discipline, they quickly fade away.
According to him, cultivating disciplinary skills should begin in early childhood to enable students to adapt easily to life’s challenges, overcome obstacles, and achieve their goals.At the same time, he warns against misinterpreting school rankings.
While rankings can serve as additional motivation, creating a sense of competition and self-improvement, they should not become an ultimate goal.
Rankings are primarily a tool to prepare children for the realities of adult life, where competition is an inherent part of everything — from job hunting to career building.Teachers and parents should focus not only on academic results but also on explaining the purpose of learning, openly discussing children’s goals, and helping develop clear steps toward their achievements.
The psychologist notes that public rankings do not always have a positive motivating effect.
For children who constantly find themselves at the bottom, rankings can lead to decreased self-esteem or psychological discomfort.“Instead of punishing a child with labels or focusing solely on low results, it is essential to understand and support them in overcoming psychological or other barriers that hinder development,” emphasizes Duhlii.Thus, rankings can be a useful tool when used correctly — as part of discipline-building and preparing for adult realities, rather than as the sole indicator of worth or achievement.
True success depends on internal motivation, upbringing, and the ability to responsibly undertake responsibilities.For more on how teachers’ attitudes influence children’s development, read the article ‘School as a Space of Trust: Why This Is More Important Than Grades and Rules’.