Summary

The article emphasizes the importance of self-discipline over motivation for achieving goals and creating lasting habits.

Abstract

The author of the article argues that motivation is an unreliable emotion and that true progress towards goals is made through self-discipline. They suggest that self-discipline is a learned behavior that enables one to work consistently, regardless of emotional states. The article encourages readers to develop disciplined habits to foster freedom and happiness, rather than waiting for inspiration to strike. It posits that discipline leads to the completion of tasks, overcoming procrastination, and ultimately living life to the fullest. The author also addresses the topic of failure, urging readers not to view it as a setback but as a learning opportunity that brings them closer to success.

Opinions

Motivation is described as fleeting and insufficient for sustained progress.
Self-discipline is seen as the key to forming strong habits and achieving long-term goals.
The author believes that discipline, once established, becomes a consistent force in one's life.
Discipline is linked to increased freedom and happiness, as it allows individuals to engage in activities that are meaningful to them.
The article suggests that overcoming the initial resistance to change is crucial for developing new, beneficial habits.
The author advises against letting negative emotions like anger and guilt derail disciplined efforts.
Failure should not be an excuse to quit but rather a chance to learn and move closer to success.
The concept of "discipline equals freedom" is endorsed, indicating that structure in one's life can lead to greater autonomy and fulfillment.

Stop Waiting for Motivation to Arrive, Work on Your Self-discipline

No matter how you feel, rain or shine, turn up and bloody work, regardless of if you’re motivated or not

I’m not going to lie, I can’t be f*cked to write today. Motivation is at an all-time low.

Even though I’m lacking motivation, I know I need to create a strong writing habit that will guide me through the tough times. It keeps me progressing towards my goals. This self-discipline overpowers motivation.

Anyway, motivation is a fickle emotion. It’s there one moment, and before you know, it’s gone again. Two hours later you’re still sitting on your arse scrolling through Facebook.

You will never achieve your goals if you solely rely on motivation. Stop waiting for motivation to arrive; work on becoming disciplined instead.

“Start before you’re ready.”

― Steven Pressfield, Do the Work

No matter how you feel, rain or shine, turn up and bloody work, regardless of if you’re motivated or not. I don’t mean work yourself into the ground. Create healthy habits that work in your favour.

Work on your goals daily. No matter rain or shine, whether you’re motivated or not. Make sure you're progressing every day. Small incremental changes compound.

What is self-discipline?

Most think that self-discipline comes naturally, when in fact, it is a learned behaviour.

It is the art of completing a task when you need to, whether you feel like it or not. It is the winning voice in your head that beats down the curse of procrastination, forcing you to progress towards your goals.

Without self-discipline, you will waste your life in front of the TV, binge eating. You have no freedom.

As Jocko Willink says, discipline is freedom.

This is true, and the more disciplined you become, the more freedom you have. You live your life to the fullest and stop wasting energy on pointless activities. At the beginning of the year, I vowed to remove myself from hustle culture and work on my happiness instead. Combine this with the disciplined habits I’m forging daily, and my happiness has now grown exponentially. I’m working on my writing, exercising, doing yoga, and stretching daily. This is such a wholesome feeling completing these activities every day. By becoming more disciplined, my freedom and time have become more readily available.

Stop waiting for motivation to arrive

With this in mind, stop waiting for that burst of inspiration and get to work. Motivation will come and go. Discipline will stay once you’ve forged a habit. It is hard to break it.

The first step to creating new habits is breaking the old patterns you have. There will be resistance in the beginning; yes, it will be a challenge. But you need to persevere.

The goal is to keep aiming to maintain happiness and freedom in your life. Don’t work yourself into an early grave; work yourself towards building a better life. You don’t have to overwork to be happy, yet you can become disciplined and earn happiness through doing the tasks you enjoy the most. With this discipline comes the freedom to fully work on your hobbies and ambitions. Don’t worry about any failures that come your way, concentrate on the future, forget the past.

Avoid getting trapped by negative emotions. Feelings of anger, frustration, and guilt will not help with your goals. These only become detrimental to becoming disciplined. They will only help procrastination win. Forgive your past self for wasting time and move forward.

The time is now.

Thoughts on failure

Don’t allow failure to become an excuse to quit. It is easy to become discouraged when faced with rejection or when a project has failed. Remember, you tried, this is a victory.

Most people wouldn’t have even tried. Now you’ve learnt what hasn’t worked, now you’re one step closer to succeeding. Look at the failed project and see what you could have done differently and keep ongoing.

“The pain of regret is worse than failure.” — M.T. Collins.