Poor self-discipline is a common struggle for many individuals, leading to missed opportunities, underachievement, and regret. The Twelve Nidanas of dependent origination offer a cyclical explanation of the interdependence of suffering and the nature of reality, relevant to this issue. By understanding how each link of the cycle perpetuates the root cause of poor self-discipline, individuals can work towards breaking the cycle through mindfulness, self-awareness, and non-attachment.

The Twelve Links of dependent origination are ignorance, mental formations, consciousness, name and form, the six sense bases, contact, feeling, craving, clinging, becoming, birth, and old age and death. In the context of poor self-discipline, each link plays a role in reinforcing negative patterns and perpetuating the cycle.

Recognizing and addressing ignorance as the root cause is the first step. Developing wisdom and understanding of reality and the consequences of poor self-discipline can help individuals break free from these patterns. Mindfulness practices, like meditation, can help individuals become more self-aware of their patterns and develop new thought patterns or habits.

Consciousness is the faculty that experiences phenomena and is conditioned by mental formations. Through cultivating self-awareness, individuals can understand the workings of their consciousness and develop willpower and concentration.

The psychophysical constituents of a sentient being, known as name and form, play a role in susceptibility to distraction and inattention. Mindfulness practices that focus on the body, such as yoga or tai chi, can help individuals develop awareness and reduce susceptibility to distraction.

The interaction of the six sense bases with their respective objects creates opportunities for distraction or temptation. Practicing restraint of the senses and mindfulness practices can help individuals to avoid unwholesome sensory experiences.

Feeling and craving are interconnected, with pleasant feelings leading to craving and aversion to unpleasant feelings. Developing equanimity, gratitude, and cultivating positive motivations can weaken this link.

Clinging reinforces negative patterns, leading to further entanglement in samsara. Non-attachment and developing new habits or thought patterns can help break this link.

Becoming refers to the karmic process of becoming from clinging, reinforcing negative patterns. Changing self-defeating behaviors and seeking support can help interrupt this link.

Birth refers to missed opportunities and failure to achieve goals, perpetuating negative patterns. Clear and achievable goals, seeking feedback or support, and daily routines or practices can help individuals achieve their goals.

Finally, mindfulness of mortality can help individuals develop a sense of urgency and motivation to make the most of their lives, focusing on relationships, personal growth, and making amends for past mistakes.