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- Motivation vs. Discipline
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
Motivation gets you going, but discipline keeps you growing.
The Breakdown
Hey fam!
DEEP DIVE
Do You Ever Feel Flat?
I remember going to Manhattan in 2018, seeing the glowing boards in Time Square and thinking: "I'll be on one of those one day". Fast-forward a few months later and I didn't do anything to move towards that goal. I had nothing to show for it and felt worse than before.
Sometimes, life gets too much for us and we feel overwhelmed. When you upload that first YouTube video or podcast, that initial motivation turns to fear. It feels that we've set ourselves up for failure and will be found out by family & friends. Well, this is where I believe discipline has an advantage. Discipline is almost like your inner brick wall, an unshakeable (over time) force keeping you on the right path. It helps you block out the noise and focus on what's most important: the next step.
In my experience, motivation is an inconsistent force that needs a system to thrive off of. I’ve touched on how intrinsic motivation helps us towards our goals. However, you need to create a lifestyle of self-discipline to help turn that motivation into action.
How to Start Building Discipline
Ruthless Prioritisation: This is the important first step that involves Warren Buffett's 5/25 Rule.
Write down your 25 most important goals and circle the top five that stick out to you the most. Now, I'd go a step further and cross out two of those five to give you a top three to create a laser focus on what's important.
Habit Audit: Next, write a list of habits you do each day and (taking inspiration from Atomic Habits) note whether that habit is beneficial with a + or - (with a neutral habit being an =).
Seeing those small, yet negative habits can make you deeply think about whether you’re focusing on your goals.
Now, you have a mini-mission: Find a way to replace those negative habits with smaller, positive actions.
For example, start replacing the doom-scroll habit by setting a Screen Timer for that addictive app. It's not an ultimate solution, it's a movement to get closer to one.
Can Motivation and Discipline Co-Exist?
The short answer: Yes.
However, intrinsic motivation alone will not give you momentum and consistency. Putting in the time using the steps above to create a strong discipline around that initial motivation separates a dream from reality.
What matters most is what you do when no one is watching you.
TIPS & TRICKS
TAKE ACTION TODAY
Write down your 25 most important goals
Circle the top five that stick out to you the most
Write a list of your daily habits and note whether it’s positive or negative with a + or - (a neutral habit being an =)
THIS WEEK’S RECOMMENDATION
This video from Ryan Holiday will help you start to understand the role of discipline in self-improvement. Give this a watch!