On Self-Discipline
Self-discipline, while at first glance could seem restrictive or self-limiting, is essentially an exercise of maximum freedom; Cold showers to start the day. Long hours of reading, writing or exercise. Fasting diets and the mental clarity they bring about. Detoxing your day from technology. The freeing sensation of seeing your phone switched off face-down on the countertop. Afternoon walks free of destinations. Stimulating conversations with intelligent peers. And repeat! Repeat until you think no more…
And then? look again! look for the inefficient and the maladaptive. Then rework, restructure, revisit, try this and try that. Stay patient, observant and committed. Stick to the principle, the idea you set for yourself. Where you want to be? and how you want to be? There are no hacks to this. And even if there are, you do not know of any, so quit looking for shortcuts and keep on going with dedication. Engage and prepare. But do not let preparation fool you into detaching from the process. Because you are the process, and the process is you.
To engage is to acknowledge that simple but overlooked fact: You are the process.
The constant pruning of wasteful habits while establishing good ones through observation and repetition (aka gaining generative momentum) sets the stage for unparalleled freedom. A breakthrough from the social pressures. A seemingly self-restrictive operation unlocks an overarching liberation. Enlightenment, clarity of mind, and capacity for action. An opportunity to say and act differently, different from the instilled conditioning of childhood and the expectations around adulthood. This is why self-discipline is the true rebellion against all.
Discipline is not only about greatness, even though it could very much take you to heights. Discipline is not exactly overworking your body at the gym to grow huge biceps, because discipline is not the outcome. Discipline also cannot be reduced to a rigid timetable because discipline is not the methodology.
Discipline is the commitment to choice, particularly the creative choice. Discipline is the continuous engagement with activities that one whole-heartedly desires.
To do something you desire, you might ditch another that you desire a little less: A compromise that pales in comparison to the gains of discipline.
How do you make sure you continue committing to your highest desires?
This is where momentum is instrumental. Anxious, thought-lacking decisions arise from low momentum. But to be steady and constant, to stay consistent all along and throughout every moment, one needs to leverage a high momentum of action. High momentum arises from building habits and staying with them. Think of how hard it is to quit your bad habits? That is what high momentum does: It keeps you under the hold of your established habits.
There is no one-size-fits-all version of discipline. It varies and it does so greatly. My discipline could be your chaos and vice versa. And that is why it takes confidence to stick to what works for you.
It is most appropriate to end this piece by clarifying that discipline, while it clearly stands in the face of daily habitual chaos with order and rituals, is not to be confused with rigidity. Discipline could be rigid when it needs to be, but it does not necessarily collide with a rigid unbreakable order. First of all, it is near-impossible for humans to stick to a fixed routine (everyone who tried to do so can appreciate this simple fact.) Moreover, life has its overarching rhythms and seasons, and to expect linearity or constancy in one’s behaviour is to judge foolishly. It is much more constructive to leave room for change and the cycles of life to go through the relentless activity of habit building and betterment.
Discipline creates order out of chaos: By the momentum of good habits, and through the bonds of a disciplined life a creative force arises. That is chaos, once more. But this time, it comes with a direction. The emergent chaotic patterns are characterized by elegance rather than the arbitrariness of those shaping the background.
Discipline creates bounds for expression; When bounded, expression becomes elite. It draws attention without needing attention. It earns respect but doesn’t ask for respect. The dance of discipline moves people’s hearts. Discipline is maturity setting the stage for your inner child to be seen and to be known.
