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Category: Being Disciplined

Reclaiming Wasted Energy

Published on December 14, 2022

So much energy is wasted every day in limbo.

In that in between space where our temptations and disciplines clash.

In that place where we’re making up our minds; arguing against ourselves; stagnating.

It’s in this state where our energy drains its fastest. And the longer we stay there, the more likely temptation is to win against discipline.

The key to reclaiming our energy is redirecting our energy.

  • Trying to resist temptation? Don’t stare. Don’t engage. Don’t even look if you can help it. Quickly redirect your energy and walk away; open a book; play a podcast.; call a friend or family member; play with your dog—anything that gets you out and away.
  • Trying to improve your state of mind in a toxic environment? Even the best of us can’t override the effects of toxic environments. Trying to do so is futile. You’re better off redirecting your energy out and away from that environment and into a new, healthier, healing one. This goes for work environments, hang out environments, and even family environments.
  • Trying to move on from pain of the past? Actively investigating our past to heal is one thing… lingering aimlessly in the pain is another. Redirect your energy towards your future and away from your past. Hang out with new people. Take on a new project. Build an aligned side hustle business. Building something new is one of the best ways to move on from something old.

If each of us could reclaim even 1% of that energy—that human potential—that’s wasted in limbo and redirect it towards something constructive… I reckon we could build ourselves an entire additional calendar day in our year.

The Default Reality

Published on November 25, 2022

An important reminder: regression is the default.

If you don’t actively oppose the way of reality… you’ll become:

  • Weaker
  • Sicker
  • Dull(er)

We must rebel against:

  • The comfort of beds, couches, and gaming chairs.
  • The delight of sugar, salt, and high-fructose corn syrup.
  • The grips of Netflix, mindless gaming, and click-bait media.

Progression is reserved for the brave ones who reject the default reality and choose to live a life that’s against the grain and in alignment with their highest version.

No Discipline Without Trust

Published on November 1, 2022

When boiled down, self-discipline is really a function of trust.

The most disciplined are the ones who make and keep the most promises to themselves and the least disciplined are the ones who make and break the most promises to themselves.

If you seriously want to become disciplined, then you need to prove it by taking yourself—the promises you make to yourself—more seriously.

If you’re already a notorious self-promise breaker… then become keenly aware of this and stop promising yourself more than you can deliver.

Just as under-promise, over deliver is a great strategy for a successful business, so too is it a great strategy for becoming self-disciplined. And marginally increasing the seriousness of your promises as trust (in yourself) is restored is how self-discipline is increased/built.

And take note: as is true with other relationships in life, trust is built slowly, but can be broken rapidly. So be patient, take “marginally” seriously, and build discipline as you would a brick wall—one brick (one promise) at a time.

P.s. I also published: 25 Lessons From 1,000 Days Of Daily Writing on Medium.

Getting To 10

Published on October 20, 2022

My desire to workout, on a scale from 1-10, was at a solid 4 this morning.

The resistance was real.

  • Showing up anyway got me to a 5.
  • Foam rolling/ stretching got me to a 6.
  • Playing the right music got me to a 7.
  • Finishing my first set got me to an 8.

And before I knew it… I was done.

…And feeling like a 10.

P.s. Know someone who may enjoy reading these? This is me kindly asking if you’d forward it to them :) …Did you get this forwarded to you? You can subscribe here :)

Content Fridge

Published on October 8, 2022

Every time you click your mouse, you fill your content fridge.

If you click the clickbait, don’t be surprised when you open your content fridge and see junk.

That’d be the same as picking junk at the grocery store, and then getting home and being surprised when you open your shopping bags.

…Junk?! How did this happen?! That grocery store sucks.

No. It’s not the grocery store’s fault—it’s what you picked.

It’s the same for what you see on media as it is for what you see in your shopping bags.

Just as you resist junk food while food shopping, resist clickbait when clicking.

For what you pick will only continue to show up in your life (and will ultimately be what you consume) over and over and over again.

I sip on coffee while I write these. If you enjoy these posts, you can support my future work by supplying me with one of my next cups of joe here. ♥

Are You Serious?

Published on July 19, 2022

Many people say they’re serious about their goals…

But, when it comes time to be serious about:

  • Showing up on an “off” day
  • Saying “no” to a conflicting request
  • Putting the damn phone away

They shrug their shoulders and tell themselves it’s, “No big deal.”

Herein lies the problem…

They’re actually not serious.

Being serious in the easy moments is hardly impressive.

It’s the being serious in the hard moments when seriousness is actually proved.

Thank you to the kind soul who got me a coffee just so I could “savor the moment.” This post is dedicated to you. ☕️

Delay The Urge To Stop

Published on June 20, 2022

Whenever possible, rather than stopping your forward momentum altogether, try slowing down instead.

One of the worst strategies for finishing a marathon is to sprint-stop-sprint-stop-sprint-stop the whole way.

When you feel yourself getting winded—adjust your pace; shorten your stride; give yourself more time to breathe.

And at all costs: delay the urge to stop.

While rest might seem like the most energy efficient decision in the moment, as physics demonstrates, keeping your body in motion is actually the most energy efficient option long-term.

So that we’re clear, I’m not advocating you never stop working.

I am advocating that you commit to a working pace that you can sustain rather than one that you have to constantly start-stop.

For example: rather than read 100 pages sporadically every month or two—commit to 10 pages per day. And if 10 pages becomes too much, don’t stop altogether. Drop it to 5 pages per day. And if that’s still too much, drop it to one page. And if that’s too much—you’re playing yourself.

Keeping the momentum alive in your daily tasks is key to efficient and effective forward movement in your life.

Starting a stopped body is much harder than keeping a body in motion.

Keep your body in motion even when (especially when) your mind wants to stop.