Much of the turmoil we see in Western society today can be traced back to a simple truth: we have abandoned discipline. For many baby boomers, the question comes often, “When did our society get so out of control?”

From toddlers walking out of a store with candy bars, and parents ignoring the training opportunity to teach that payment is made at the cash register, to students dressing for the nightclub instead of the classroom, to young people loitering around town centers long after school hours, the signs of declining discipline are everywhere. Add to that the refusal of many students to respect rules, boundaries, or even basic standards of transportation and conduct, and one begins to wonder: have we mistaken disorder for freedom?

Freedom Without Responsibility

Freedom is a noble ideal, but freedom without responsibility is dangerous. In today’s social media–driven culture, every opinion, no matter how reckless, is amplified. Meanwhile, sober voices, once the compass of communities are drowned out. When everyone is free to do as they please without accountability, the result is not liberty but chaos.

The Roots of the Problem

How did we get here? Some of the answer lies in shifting family structures. A generation has grown up in homes shaped by teenage parents, single parents, or exhausted dual-working parents. Many parents never experienced consistent discipline themselves and therefore struggle to pass it on. Without the steady guidance of firm but loving boundaries, young people enter adulthood ill-prepared for responsibility.

The Cost of Neglecting Discipline

When we ignore discipline in the name of progress or civilization, society will eventually pay the price. Schools become harder to manage, workplaces lose their standards, law enforcement faces constant friction, and social order unravels. The very pillars of a healthy community, respect, accountability, self-control; cannot stand without discipline at their foundation.

A Call to Return

The solution is not a return to harshness or rigidity, but to balance: freedom tethered to responsibility, expression grounded in respect, and rights matched by duties. If we are to restore civility, stability, and order, then discipline must once again be honored as a virtue; not dismissed as outdated.

After all, freedom without discipline is not freedom at all. It is simply the fastest route to chaos.

Finding Purpose in Discipline

At Plan for Purpose, we believe that structure, discipline, and intentional choices extend beyond parenting and society; they shape our financial lives, our retirements, and our legacies. By aligning values with financial planning, we help individuals and families find stability, fulfillment, and direction in an often-chaotic world. Book a one-and-one consultation at www.planforpurpose.com to learn how discipline today can create security and purpose tomorrow. Also purchase a copy of our book “More Than Just a Payout: How Life Insurance Builds Security and Opportunity at https://a.co/d/eAEQe78

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