Winners need discipline, not motivation...
Most of the time, what's standing between you and the person you want to be is discipline. Motivation gets you going but discipline keeps you growing. Here's how you build your self-discipline muscle.
Happy New Week,
Last week we spoke about winning the last quarter. In order to win the last quarter, a great amount of self-discipline is needed. You can’t depend solely on motivation or inspiration to win because there will be times when you can’t be bothered but discipline is what will keep you going regardless of how you feel.
“Discipline is choosing between what you want now and what you want the most” Abraham Lincoln.
Self-discipline comes from within, it starts with finding your purpose and doing what is required to achieve that purpose. The biggest source of discipline is having a reason behind why you need to do the task. When you have a clear vision of what you want to achieve and why, you know that you have to do whatever’s necessary to achieve your desired outcome. For example, if you want to be a writer, you have to write every day, if you want to be an athlete you have to train every day.
In order to build your discipline, you have to count on yourself. Commit to your goals but also the actions you’ll have to carry out to achieve your goals. Self-discipline is the ability to take action and do what you need to do regardless of how you feel. Your action plan for this last quarter should have deadlines and mini-milestones. This will help you stay committed and ensure you’re working towards your desired vision in small pieces and time blocks, putting you in the driver’s seat and helping you avoid being overwhelmed.
Self-discipline is like a muscle, the more you exercise it, the stronger it gets. Practicing voluntary hardship helps you strengthen your self-discipline muscle. Marcus Aurelius states “We should discipline ourselves in small things, and from these progress to things of greater value”. It means by constantly testing ourselves and being uncomfortable for a short while, we are preparing ourselves for when we might need it. For example, going on a social media break, taking a cold shower, or surviving on a minimal budget. Starting with these smaller things will show that you are capable of doing them and being disciplined when you have to be.
Self-discipline can be difficult when you can’t see the result straight away. That’s why it’s important to practice delayed gratification. Delayed gratification is resisting the impulse to take an immediate pleasure in the hope of obtaining a long-lasting reward in the long term. For example, going to the gym rather than watching Netflix. Putting off what you want now to get what you need. Embrace delayed gratification and understand that the journey to success isn’t easy but its worth it because of who you will become.
You have to show up every day. You beat the majority of your competition by just showing up. By just showing up and immersing yourself in your craft daily, you are able to make remarkable progress. If you just focus on getting 1% better every day, when you look back in a year your progress will be incredible. Self-discipline is consistency, by consistently following through on your action plan, you will eventually achieve your desired outcome.
Life is all about becoming all we could possibly be and maximising our full potential. Discipline is the bridge between where you are now and becoming all you can possibly be. You need the discipline to make the changes to become the fullest version of yourself. Discipline does many things but most importantly it makes you feel better about yourself. There’s a great feeling of self-worth that comes when you are committed to being the best you can be.
To conclude, most of the time we know what we need to do to achieve our desired outcomes but we just need to be disciplined enough to see them through. There’s no shortcut or secret, it all comes down to discipline. Discipline builds careers, develops good health, and develops skills that can take you to incredible heights. Keep building your self-discipline muscle by challenging yourself and staying consistent.
Have a great week.
Subomi