Discipline Week 2

Nothing is Permanent — Learn to Perform Without Motivation. 

-David Goggins

David Goggins, author of “Can’t hurt me”, one of the top fitness and mindset motivators of our time, explains his quote, which is one of his life lessons.  "Motivation isn’t always there. When it fades, what keeps you going is discipline. Train yourself to work at your best even when you’re tired, discouraged, or feel uninspired." Goggins believes you can find your “best self” with minimal energy.

Example: Imagine having a long day at work and feeling exhausted. You can either skip your workout or push through it. When you complete it, even on low energy, you’ll realize your strength is greater than you thought.

He also refers to being motivated by the unmotivated. The person you know who is chronically late, disorganized, unhealthy by choice, always making excuses. Ask yourself is that who I want to be. If the answer is no, move to the next step.

One of his other techniques is the accountability mirror. Use a mirror you must look in every morning and night., maybe where you brush your teeth. Write one goal on a post it. Put it right in front of you on the mirror, where you see it at least twice a day. Keep it simple, for example, WORK OUT, or EAT HEALTHY, or MEDITATE. We always have a choice but when we have a constant reminder in our face it makes it harder to not do it.

It is the easy road to make excuses. Common ones are:

I don’t have time. Translation (It’s not a priority)

I’m not seeing results. Translation (I want instant gratification)

I’m not disciplined. Translation (I’m lazy)

What is your excuse, for not being disciplined, with your work, you’re eating, your exercising, cleaning or whatever it is? Write it down and then write next to it what the translation is, as in the example above. You can change. You can choose to Do Hard Things. You can be better, one small step at a time.

In my experience as a coach, meditation teacher, counselor, I found that people set too difficult a goal to be consistent. For example, I will go to the gym every day this week after work. On day 1 your boss gives you an assignment that the deadline demands you stay late. No gym. Day 2 a friend says we are all meeting up after work, no gym. You get the pattern. You decide I will start next week. If this is you, start smaller, find success right away. Walk ten - twenty minutes on your lunch, stretch at your desk every hour, every half hour complete 5 pushups, (wall pushups are fine) You can substitute squats, planks or lunges. An entire body workout while you are working. You will probably be more productive as well. Build working out into your day. 

Keep a log of what you did each day. At the end of the week, you will surprise yourself, at all that you have accomplished.  

Discipline = Priority