Ramadan Reflection - Discipline

The other day I was thinking, if the shayateen are all chained and locked away, then why am I having a hard time in completing my salaat and doing other acts of worship. Where are all the promptings to laziness and fatigue coming from? Why am I worrying about what to make for iftaar and making sure I get enough sleep so I am awake in class? It hasn't been 5 days and where did all the enthusiasm for Ramadan go?

Then I realized, in Ramadan a person is alone with their nafs. I am alone with myself. No waswaas from Shayateen, its just me. Whatever my inclinations may be, whatever my temptations and distractions - they are all a manifestation who I am inside. All year round, we blame the shaytan, the environment, the culture, the media - our friends and family. But in Ramadan, I am on my own - the shayateen are pulled back so I cannot say the shaytan made me do it. The TV and netflix are turned off. Friends and family are busy. Then it must be just me who is a bad influence on myself!

Ramadan shows us how much we are in need of SELF-discipline!
Discipline does not mean punishment. In fact discipline is about teaching ourselves right from wrong; how to respect the rights of Allah and fulfill them; which hobbies our are acceptable and which are time wasters. Discipline helps become honest with ourselves, it teaches us how to control our impulses and feel confident of abilities.

Effective Ramadan Tip?
Discipline urself - do the opposite of what you 'feel' like doing. If feel like sleeping, push urself to read. If u are hungry an ho before iftaar, leave all the food preparations, sit and make duaa. If u are tired and need to wake up early the morning, go for Taraweeh. If u are mad at someone, forgive them. It is only by doing that u will achieve result results.