Discipline is not always pretty. It’s also not pleasant when you’re practicing it
There’s this real nice guy at the gym I go to. He’s usually got an upbeat attitude, waves whenever we make eye contact on the floor, and overall just has a great physique. You can tell he goes to the gym frequently. He’s usually there each day of the week and is always there before me (I try to get there by 6:20AM).
While he was at the gym today, he seemed a bit different. He looked tired and was exuding this “I don’t want to be here” vibe. When I asked him, he said he didn’t get good sleep.
Yet, he still showed up to the gym to work out.
I’ll be honest…if it were me, I would’ve just slept in.
It shocked me a bit to see him in this state because I usually see him more energetic or positive.
At the same time, I understood where he was mentally and physically because I’ve gone to the gym when I really really didn’t want to. It’s a bloody mental and physical fight. Seeing him how he was reminded me how discipline looked like at times. It’s not pretty.
We often hear about what discipline is or the importance of discipline in life.
- Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishment.
- Discipline is power.
- Discipline is freedom.
- Discipline is self love.
Everything is true. Trying to navigate life without discipline is like trying to navigate LA for the first time without GPS. You’ll get lost or lose track of where you’re going without discipline.
You need it to fight the toughest mental and physical battles. It’s imperative for your personal growth.
If being disciplined was easy, everybody would do it. But it’s not.
You’ll probably have more days of not wanting to do it than days of wanting to do it.
The post-gratification you get from practicing discipline isn’t going to make you feel like you just won the lottery. The hype is often very low; however, the confidence you gain is tremendous and long lasting.
You can use that confidence to build your character, which in turn produces hope. Romans 5:3-5 says this:
Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.
Romans 5: 3-4 NIV
I certainly am not the most discipline person (that title goes to David Goggins), but I try. And you should try to. Everyday. It’s about consistency.
During the times where I really struggle to convince myself to work out in the morning, I remind myself that the situation is not going to present itself perfectly for me to go do it. If I only worked out when I felt like it, I’d be way fatter and feeling a lot more pain when playing volleyball.
Jocko Willink also says it too in this discipline quote:
Don’t expect to be motivated every day to get out there and make things happen. You won’t be. Don’t count on motivation. Count on Discipline”
jocko willink, discipline equals freedom
So if you feel like you’re really struggling when you’re trying to be disciplined, you’re not alone. Keep going.
