According to ancient greek philosopher Plato, self-discipline is about using your reasoning

capacities, thinking things through, and relying on your inner strength, your willpower.

Plato once shared a story in a talk called Phaedrus. In this story,

there's a driver steering a chariot, and this driver is holding onto two horses. The first

horse is pretty impressive - it's tall, white, and has a good attitude. It listens to the driver

without needing a whip and likes things such as honor and modesty. The second horse, though, is

the opposite - it's a bit of a mess, with a short neck, dark color, and a stubborn personality. It

doesn't easily follow commands and is into pride and rudeness. Now, the driver's job is to guide

both horses to a special, heavenly place and get the chariot moving in the right direction.

Plato via this story teaches us that our soul has three parts:

The first one is the Reason or Logos: It's like the charioteer, guiding us to make good choices.

This is the rational and intellectual part linked to thinking, wisdom, and the pursuit of truth.

The second one being the Spirit or Thumos: Like the white horse, it's associated with the

chest or heart region. It encompasses emotions, courage, and the drive for honor and recognition.

And the third one is Appetite or Epithumia: Linked to the belly, it's like the black horse. This part

represents our desires and appetites, including those for food, drink, and physical pleasure.

Plato argues that a well-ordered soul is one in which reason is in control,

with spirit supporting reason and appetite following their guidance. In an individual,

the balance and harmony of these three parts determine moral character and the ability to

lead a disciplined life. Plato's philosophical system is known as 'Platonic idealism,’ and in

this video, we will delve into mastering the art of self-discipline, from the wisdom of Plato.

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