On discipline:

How do you define it?

I’ve always considered discipline to be ‘doing what you need to do, no matter the circumstances.’ While this remains true, I’ve pondered further and have added some nuance to the concept, personally.

Throughout my fitness journey, I have been complemented on my determination and discipline — which I am always grateful and humbled to receive. Ignoring your hunger for 10 weeks to become incredibly lean does require discipline. Getting through a leg day at 3 weeks out requires every ounce of effort you can muster.

But here’s the thing: I’ve always wanted to do these things.

Personally, getting 5 days of weight training in a week, no matter what, does not require much discipline... Because I WANT to do it. Going hungry for competitions was difficult, but the vision was always stronger than the temptation of falling off track.

Now, for the first time in my life, I am completing training that I might actually prefer not to do. Waking up at 5:30am in November to run 28 kilometres before the world starts to turn is a challenge. And as my alarm rang this morning, I considered what it all meant.

In this moment, I was struck by this new understanding of discipline:
Doing the thing when you truly do not want to.

This has to provide profound spiritual development. It just has to.

For a long time, training incredibly hard provided a personal sense of purpose, control, and value that I really needed. Now, as my life develops in increasingly positive ways, I’m learning to value myself intrinsically again.

This development lends a temptation to ease off the gas. But, I know that even more effort is what is actually required. I no longer work hard to earn what I think I need. I do it to protect and build on what I have.

I hope that you find the inspiration to make that big dream in your head a reality.

Pen to paper. Make it happen, my friends. 🕊️