We all have different approaches, opinions, attitudes towards discipline. The extreme side of it, where you see people waiting up at ungodly hours to perform ridiculous routines, or the complete rejection of it, from those who feel that work should flow naturally, without being forced - then everything in between.
My current position leans towards the former. I’ve become aware of the risks and benefits of chasing discipline. I’ve let too much slide right past me to sit idly for too long. Despite this, I keep my limits in mind and avoid destroying myself in the process.
Trying too hard
Trying too hard has disadvantages that I’ve experienced in association with building discipline. On one hand, you can accomplish truly extraordinary results. On that same hand, you can see yourself meeting your human limits and the pain that comes with it. On the other hand, you see the regret, wasted opportunities, would’ve-should’ve-could’ves, and past you that you want to leave behind.
What did trying too hard look like for me?
- Two hour sessions of intense physical exercise, twice a week, 6 days a week
- Running a sports club outside of my full time job
- Trying to diet by living off 1000 calories a day
- Managing family crisis
- Moving homes
- Maintaining broken relationships
- Spending months on 3-5 hours of sleep each night
That’s not to say I didn’t see glimpses of greatness. In that period, I was the most fit and in the best shape of my life, jumped higher than I ever had before, and solved more problems than I ever had before.
But it wasn’t worth it. I would slip up, forget things. and run into walls that - once trivial to overcome, had now become insurmountable. Losing touch with reality becomes a slap in the face to make sure you stop, which is not pleasant. Trying is great, and I’ll never stop. Trying too hard is where discipline can fail you. Be human, accepting, reflective, and evaluative when attempting to build discipline.
Systems
You fall to the level of your systems. Forget motivation, forget mindset, forget discipline as some ethereal characteristic that you can choose to develop uniquely and independently. Rather, build systems that align with who you are and want to be. If I run on Monday once a week, with this level of regular progression, within six months, I’ll have growth by this much, even if I go on holiday. Winning even when you’re failing is part of the system. Small losses and disappointments are inconsequential within larger objectives. If you can get around this, you stop glorifying discipline and more deeply appreciate the mundane.
The inner voice
Sometimes, chasing discipline only paints part of the picture of a larger problem. I’m a strong advocate of following your intuition. Why do you want to be more disciplined? To do what? Why? Is there some underlying discomfort in your life, where change is needed? What feels like the right way forward? It’s worth exploring. Discipline comes more naturally when it’s towards a direction you want to move in.