Motivation vs. Discipline
I used to think all I needed to accomplish my goals was more motivation. If I was just motivated, I could accomplish whatever I wanted. I would watch an inspiring YouTube video and hear of someone else's success story. But all of my motivation seemed to come and go. So why was my solution to my stuckness so temporary? Why did the goals I wrote down keep slipping away after a while?
On the other hand, discipline is defined as training or developing by instruction or exercise, and especially self-control. Discipline is the habit and group of patterns that keep you doing what you want and need. Discipline is a practice that encourages you to make the most beneficial and healthiest actions for yourself and your goals regardless of your feelings or circumstances. Discipline can be very powerful when combined with motivation, inspiration, clarity, purpose, and joy. Discipline with direction is how you achieve your goals.
Now, this isn't to say that motivation is not important. On the contrary, many things wouldn't get done without a motivator because motivation creates ideas, plans, inspiration, and connection. Motivation, however, is a temporary feeling like joy or sadness or like the warmth of the sun that leaves and returns. Motivation is beneficial and sometimes necessary to complete goals, but it shouldn't be what you depend on to get where you want to be.
Instead, combine as many things as you can and be resourceful – do research, use motivation, use inspiration, talk with other experts and mentors, and remember the four requisites for positive and lasting change:
#1 – Get rid of negative emotions, limiting decisions and baggage
#2 – Create the future, set goals
#3 – Take action (this includes enforcing boundaries)
#4 – Focus on what you want
The best way to complete the four requisites for change is by having discipline and motivation. The motivation gets you to schedule the sessions and do the hard work that lets you release the negative things surrounding your problem. It has taken a lot of life to get you right now. To achieve and fully live the ideal version of you in the future, you have to work to get there. You won't make it by simply writing your goals and putting them up on the refrigerator. You have to take steps toward what you want. Create discipline in showing up and getting through the things that hold you back.
Make sure the discipline you created holds as you construct your future – the person you want to be in the future should have discipline instilled in their routine, and it should start at this point in the process. Once you've made your goals and are consistently taking action, you've got a plan that thrives off discipline. As you take action, some of it may get difficult. Maybe you're not interested in getting out of bed and doing the hard work because of a situation or circumstance in your life. Discipline makes the action easier and having a support system to make sure you complete your action steps helps you get all the things you've wanted in life.
Finally, for focus – discipline is so important. Energy flows where your attention goes. What you pay attention to will keep showing up in your life. If you keep focusing on your goals and seeing yourself happy, successful, resilient, confident, and connected, you will keep doing the necessary actions to get there. When you concentrate on the good things you will achieve, you will see that the world brings you opportunities. Motivation and discipline are keys to your focus.
Motivation is encouraging. Motivation develops your passion. Motivation creates and instills a sense of purpose and a sense of "why." Discipline designs the path. Discipline is a learned skill. Discipline develops your purpose into something real that you can see, feel, and experience.
Create a new life for yourself, accomplish your goals, get rid of your baggage. Do this by following the Four Requisites for Positive and Lasting Change and instilling discipline and motivation into your routine for the best results.
