The Basis of All Success
Discipline is not something you are born with but is a behavior you develop by the daily (or at least regular) choices of your life. Most people look for the perfect time, perfect conditions and perfect motivation but disciplined people get on with it no matter the situation. They are aware that real success comes from the cumulative result of hundreds of small actions performed consistently over time. All great stories of achievement in all field of life whether scientific, sports, or commercial share this characteristic: discipline. Hidden.
Discipline Takes the Place of Motivation
If motivation is emotional, like the weather, then discipline is structural. “It’s not based on how you’re feeling one morning.” Disciplined people have systems, and routines, and commitments that keep them going when the electricity of their feelings is gone. That’s why, in the long run, they outlive equally talented people. Talent may open the door to opportunity, but discipline is what walks through that door every day and does the work required to stay there.
Consistency Builds Up To Extraordinary Results
Disciplines is the gas of compounding, by far the greatest lever of success. If a person reads for half an hour a day, exercises 4x a week, or spends 1 hour every morning on his most important venture, he will be light years ahead of someone who only does this when he feel like it. Disciplined people know this very well. They are not going for wins today, they are making investments that appreciate exponentially in months and years.
Discipline Creates Unshakable Self-Trust
Every time you follow through on what you’ve promised yourself-getting out of bed when you said you would, following through on commitments you’ve made, denying yourself a quick-fix of pleasure for a greater, long term goal-you send a message to your own mind-“I can be trusted.” Self-trust can be one of the most underappreciated constituents of success. Disciplined people have a self-assuredness that isn’t arrogance but rather a well earned track record of sticking to commitments. Self-confidence shapes the way these people approach challenges, undertake risk and continue in the face of failure.
It Fosters Freedom, Not Constraint
For many people, all that discipline seems to mean is letting go of your fun and being rigid and sacrificing. But there’s an opposite side to discipline. Discipline is what provides you with your greatest freedom. “An athlete who trains brilliantly has earned the freedom of exceptional performance. A business executive who manages their budget with discipline has earned the freedom to make bold new leaps. A writer who pens every day has earned the freedom of an ever-growing clientele. Discipline clears away the chaos of indecision and inaction and leaves you with the invaluable gift of real freedom.
Discipline in Hard Times
Failure is often much more the rule than the exception. There are setbacks, mistakes, and frustrating dry patches where nothing appears to be going right. What distinguishes those who succeed from those who abandon ship is their attitude to those moments of hurt. The disciplined individual does not wait around for the “perfect” moment. They have trained themselves to be relentless even when things get tough and players have gone awry; they have conditioned themselves to stand fast to their principles whilst others watch.
The disciplined always play the long game.
Today, discipline is not just lost but rarer and therefore more potent. Discipled individuals are players in the long game, while everyone else plays with short cuts. They endure waiting for results, a sense of unpleasantness, and invest in ideas whose payoff isn’t immediate. The history of success shows that every great feat was accomplished by those that persisted long after everyone else left. Discipline, in the end, isn’t being tough on oneself. It’s about valuing your future self so much that you’re willing to do what’s needed to show it respect.
Writeic.com is a creative platform dedicated to writers, interview, storytellers, and digital creators who want to inspire the world through words. The authors at Writeic share insights on writing, creativity, storytelling, motivation, success story, and content creation to help readers grow their voice and unlock their creative potential.
