Discipline isn't the answer

Here's why

I was writing a particularly in-depth newsletter about how to take control of your life, when I realized something I wasn’t expecting. This happens quite a lot as I explore new thoughts and ideas, mostly because I’m easily surprised.

I realized that discipline isn’t everything it’s cracked up to be. Here I was punishing myself for not being more disciplined (whatever that means), and I didn’t even realize that discipline requires something else to function properly.

I’m going to touch on what I discovered, but for the full article, you can find it here.

A piece of the puzzle

Not all discipline is created equal.

There are levels and layers to it. One action requires more discipline than another, and so on and so forth.

But here’s the problem. We tend to lump it all into one big pile and slap a sticker on it that says, “If you can’t get your life in order, you need more discipline.”

Right. No duh.

Let’s say that in terms we understand a bit more.

“If you can’t lift that weight, you need more muscle.”

You see how unhelpful that is? When we talk about discipline this way, we say it as if it’s something we can just will ourselves to have more of. As if we have a wealth of discipline inside us, we are just choosing not to use it.

In this newsletter, I discuss the terms a bit more and the difference between localized and abstract disciplines, which was a new conception for me. We all know we need more discipline in the abstract, but most people aren’t taught how to build it sustainably.

And for that, we have to use localized, disciplined actions.

Sounds intense.

It’s not.

If anything, my pride took a bigger hit than anything.

It turns out, without realizing it, I was falling into the thinking I mentioned earlier, that I have all this discipline, I’m just not using it.

Be more disciplined and go work out.

Be more disciplined and don’t eat that Klondike bar.

Be more disciplined and be better at life.

My inner critic is entirely unhelpful at times and even more unreasonable.

Through this process, I realized how unsophisticated I was being. Sure, taking control of my life requires discipline, but not like an iron fist.

Learning about discipline has been really good for me. Not only am I slowly building more discipline, but I’m just plain nicer to myself. No need to bark orders to get anything done. It’s kind of nice.

To read all about it, click here.