We all have things we don’t want to do, and times we don’t want to do them.
These could be anything from studying a new topic, working on a difficult project, doing a particularly boring or mundane task, or committing to a health or fitness routine.
The difference between those who succeed and achieve and those that sit on the sidelines and watch others go by often comes down to one small simple thing. Discipline.
Discipline is what separates the havers from the wanters, the doers from the watchers, and the achievers from the dreamers.
Dreams are good, but only if they lead us to action. (Tweetable Quote)
The reality is, even the best and brightest still get writers block, still feel resistance to completing tasks, and still feel fear when going up against something new.
The difference is that they push through, and do it anyways.
Developing Discpline
Discipline is still something I force myself to practice daily.
Over time certain tasks have become habits, and seem to happen on autopilot, such as working out, or eating right. But there are still days and times where I feel burnt out, exhausted, and uninspired.
These are the times I know I need to work the hardest, to fight through and prove to myself that I’m committed to what I set out to achieve.
Discipline has both a subconscious and a compounding effect.
Subconscious Discipline
The subconscious effect of discipline is that the more we push through and work when we don’t want to, the more we tell ourselves and believe that we’re hard-working, dedicated, and diligent people.
The alternative is also true. The more you allow yourself to slack or coast, the more your subconscious begins to associate you with being lazy or unproductive.
Discipline Compounded
These subconscious thoughts and beliefs are either confirmed or denied each time we either take action, or don’t and they start to add up over time building a more permanent view of who we are.
All of our actions have a compounding effect as well. Small acts become habits, and our habits develop our character.
Therefore, it’s important to always take action and complete those unpleasant tasks, no matter how small.
How To Finish
The secret to finishing a difficult or unpleasant task is simply to start it.
Start now, and work for 45 minutes. Take a break, then try again for another 45 minutes.
If you can do this even once or twice a day you’ll be amazed at how even the most unpleasant jobs get handled quickly and relatively painlessly.
I’ve always found that getting started is always the hardest part, and I learned I wasn’t alone. Some of my favorite writers, coaches, speakers, and mentors all claimed to have times of fruitless, and uncreative periods.
So what did they do?
They sat down, and got to work anyways.
Waiting for inspiration to strike is an amateurs game. It’s our job to get to work and let inspiration show up when it wants to, if it even does at all.
Discipline is a habit, and an incredibly valuable one. Success isn’t stumbled upon, it’s earned.
And to earn it you’re going to need to put in some time doing some things you likely don’t want to do.
The sooner you get started, the sooner you’ll be finished.
