Let’s be honest, no one feels like doing the hard stuff all the time.
Take yesterday, for example:
I didn’t want to swim. It was a hassle getting to the pool, getting in wasn’t exactly pleasant, and to be honest — it can get a bit boring. But I did it anyway.
I didn’t feel like fasting for most of the day or staying under 1,500 calories. But if I’m going to hit my calories and macros this week, it was important to stick to the plan.
And I really didn’t feel like hitting my step count. I just didn’t have the convenient space or time for it. But I got creative, found a way, and got the steps in.
I did all of those things not because I was motivated — but because I’ve built something far more reliable than motivation.
Discipline.
Discipline changes everything. Once you understand what real discipline is, and how to build it, life starts to feel a lot more manageable.
People who have discipline really stand out. And when someone compliments you for being disciplined, it feels amazing. It’s one of the best compliments you can receive.
There are lots of ways to define discpline, but here’s mine:
Discipline is the ability to follow through on what you said you’d do — regardless of how you feel in the moment.
You know that feeling when you follow through on something you said you’d do — and needed to do? It feels amazing.
And the opposite? There’s almost nothing worse than bailing on something you know you should’ve done. You want to feel more of the first, and a lot less of the second.
The good news? It’s completely possible.
One of the biggest realisations I’ve had is this: It’s not about motivation. It’s about systems.
Motivation feels great when it shows up — but it’s inconsistent. Same with willpower. Same with trying to “connect with your why.”
It’s nice when you get these working, but they are not reliable.
If you want consistency, you have to focus on:
- Building simple habits and routines that run on autopilot
- Starting small, then scaling up
- Setting your environment up for success
- Finding someone who can coach you or hold you accountable
That’s where I’ve had my biggest breakthroughs.
For example:
You work all day, come home, drive to the gym, push through a full workout, then drive home again. It’s tough to keep that up. Especially a few times per week — week in, week out.
But what if you did a shorter, simpler workout at home? Before work? During your lunch break? And what if someone was expecting you to show up — a coach, a friend, a workout partner?
Suddenly, it’s a lot, lot easier to stay consistent.
Now, if you’re the ambitious, high-achieving type, starting small and keeping it simple can feel underwhelming. Almost unambitious.
But here’s the truth: Consistency at a lower level beats inconsistency at a higher one — every single time.
Just start with something you can actually do. And then build from there.
This type of approach takes patience. It takes letting go of ego. But it’s the best long-term strategy, every time.
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The bottom line is this: Discipline matters — a lot.
Anything meaningful in life that brings real happiness, will, at some point, require you to do something you don’t feel like doing — and to do it consistently.
If you want to build discipline, I would say this — pick one thing you want to be more consistent with. Then return to those four pillars:
- Keep it simple — don’t overcomplicate it
- Start small (smaller than it will feel comfortable to)
- Set your environment up for success
- Find someone to hold you accountable
Start there, and then build from that foundation. And before long, discipline won’t just be something you admire in others — it’ll be something people admire in you.
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