Photo: Flickr user DVIDSHUB

Susan Johnson has a story at fastcompany.com about self-Discipline is the driving force behind achieving any goal. The good news Is you can learn willpower.

Discipline and willpower are often equated with deprivation. But a recent study shows that self-control actually contributes to happiness, and the broader body of research on shows a positive correlation between willpower and greater financial security, as well as goal attainment. In fact, another study found that self-discipline was a better predictor of academic performance than IQ.

"Self-discipline is the make-or-break variable in nutrition, diet, relationships," says Kim Gorgens, a clinical associate professor in the Graduate School of Professional Psychology at University of Denver. "It keeps people out of jail and keeps them employed, so it's the 'all upside, all the time' variable."

Here are the 5 tips. Find out the details for each one here.

1. THEY AVOID TEMPTATION

2. THEY RISE TO THE OCCASION

3. THEY PRACTICE SELF-CARE

4. THEY BREAK GOALS INTO SMALLER PARTS

5. THEY FOLLOW THROUGH

Susan Johnston has covered personal finance and business for publications including the Boston Globe, Entrepreneur.com, and USNews.com.