Discipline vs Motivation

One thing you all know about me is that I’m an avid CrossFitter. If you stick around after that sentence, congratulations. You’re not as judgmental towards the sport as most. Regardless, I’d like to talk about the difference between having discipline on a daily basis vs having motivation. No, this isn’t going to be all about CrossFit. It is about physical goals, though. Hopefully, by the end of this read, you will realize if you’re actually disciplined or if you’re simply motivated.

Define It

Discipline: An activity or experience that provides mental or physical training.

Motivation: The general desire or willingness of someone to do something.

Motivation

We’ve all seen the super fit guy/girl in the gym and thought to ourselves “I’m going to train so hard to look like them.” Well, the truth is… you can say that as many times as you’d like but if you don’t put actions behind it, the ‘motivation’ becomes obsolete and after a few days, months, or years you’re daydreaming about the time you thought you were going to be the next Dwayne Johnson. You see, motivation is the idea of what your goal is. Discipline is the actions that get you to that goal.

Discipline

If you’re not ready for some harsh brutal truth, I’d come back to this blog when you are.

I asked a couple of friends to give me a sentence in regard to their thought on discipline vs motivation.

• “Ideas create motivation. Honoring those ideas creates discipline” -T.T.

• “Discomfort develops discipline.” -C.M.

• "Discipline is not wanting to do something, but doing it anyway"-Anon

Discipline is about the steps you take on a daily basis to reach the goal you set for yourself. Motivation gives you the match to light the fire, how well do you keep that fire going? 1-2 months? A year?

(Worst case scenario here: Average day in a mundane life)

*Alarm goes off to start your day* What time is it? 6:00am? 7:00am? 8? You get up, get ready. Maybe some toast and eggs for breakfast. The clock hits 8:45 and suddenly you’re late for work. “Whatever, I’m always late”, you say pulling into Starbucks for your $9 mediocre sugar-loaded coffee. Now, you’re at work and no one bats an eye because as your reputation precedes you, being late is now an expectation. *Lunch time* head down to the ole Wendy’s for a quick and easy lunch that will probably set your metabolism back another day. At 5 o’clock, it's time to go home and watch some Netflix until it's time to go to bed.

Respectfully, you won’t meet any goals doing this.

Discipline is having a routine, sticking to it, and challenging yourself to do better.

Discipline is a lifestyle.

How do I get started?

These are basic goals to get you going: how far you go above and beyond these goals is completely up to you.

Step One: Get up.

• “I’m not a morning person” is such a silly excuse. Unless you’re working the night shift I have zero sympathies for ya.

• Set an alarm 1 hour before you normally get up. I know sleep is great but let’s go, you have things to accomplish.

• Stop being late. (This is not a virtue.)

• A healthy start & early morning will set you up for success for the rest of the day.

• Go to bed earlier if you need to. #sacrifice.

Step Two: Make your bed.

• In his book, and now famous commencement speech, Admiral Seal William H. McCraven attests his success to getting the small things in life right and suggests that making the bed as soon as you wake up in the morning sets off a chain reaction of small accomplishments throughout the day. (McRaven, 2014, #) (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxBQLFLei70)

Step Three: Workout.

• I will cheer you on for any form of physical activity but if you have legitimate goals you want to meet, you need to put in the work. The only one who’s feeling sorry for you is you.

• Stick with a routine, i.e. Monday-Friday go to the gym at a set time.

• Remember, it’s you vs you.

Step Four: Stop Complaining/Making Excuses

• Boo hoo. Physical fitness doesn’t have a ‘gentle parenting’ approach to this. Its blood, sweat, and tears baby. You get it when you EARN it.

• “I don’t have time.” Okay, make time.

• “I have kids.” Gyms have child care and I’ve seen mothers and fathers run marathons with a stroller. How bad do you want it?

• “I’m tired.” Who isn’t?

Step Five: Stop consuming garbage.

You can't exercise your way out of a bad diet. -Mark Hyman

I can’t tell you how many times someone has asked for my assistance in meal planning, prepping, and exercise routines for them to turn around and eat like garbage saying “I just couldn’t do it.” You can. You choose not to. Every single day is a choice. How disciplined are you?

• Meal prep: It doesn’t have to be a fancy box from some meal prep advertiser online. It saves you a few pounds and a few dollars to take time and meal prep. Get back to the basics.

  • Chicken & Rice

  • Fish and Rice

  • Fruit

  • Vegetables (I don’t eat a lot)

  • Greek Yogurt

  • Oats

  • Protein Pancakes

  • Grass Fed Beef

Step Five: Don’t stop.

• After a certain length of time, all of these habits should become a lifestyle for you. Splurging is okay but the basics of your life should be a healthy one. You can do it, you just have to keep going.

• Not meeting goals? Bump it up a notch. Ask those with experience what you can be doing differently.

• Accountability partners help with this a LOT.

Step Six: Celebrate the wins.

• Celebrating the wins and milestones will help you reset to accomplish even more. Be sure to celebrate these with some friends! I’ll celebrate with you!! I want you to know that I am on your side!!

I’ve never been the gentle type, but people also come to me for raw and authentic truths. If this helps motivate you, I’ve done my job. You needed to hear it if you made it thus far.

I believe in you, now you go and be the best version of yourself. Get after it.

Discipline is doing what you really don't want to do so you can do what you really want to do. -Jeff Fisher