What are the tricks to self discipline?

How do you master yourself? Did it come naturally to you? Was it a part of your upbringing?

If you excel at self discipline and doing what is logically in your best interest do you also find it easy to submit to outside authority?

When it is down to the wire and the only person really benefiting from your intended action is yourself do you still cave into short term or self defeating patterns?

I have not covered all territory with these details. I will allow a lot of latitude in answering as in the details were merely added to trigger your thoughts.