Discipline is often associated with the ability to do difficult things, but is that really what it is?
I believe it's so much more than that. Discipline is about creating consistency in your actions and mindset. It's a quality that is developed over time, nurtured by the influence of like-minded individuals who are driven to succeed. Discipline has taught me things about myself like where my limitations are, what I am capable of, and where I feel weaknesses exist.
I remember watching back one of my martial arts fights after a competition. There was a specific moment where I side stepped a kick so flawlessly, countering with a head kick to my opponent. In the moment when it had happened, I didn’t even realize that it had happened. I knew that I had scored a nice kick, but did not feel the complexity of the movements that had occurred. Watching the video back, I thought to myself “how the hell did I do that?!”.
This is the power of discipline.
It was the only explanation for how I would have been able to respond in such a perfect way in the intensity of the moment. Let me explain it a little further. I slowed the video down a few times to see how my feet moved to slip out of the way and set up the counter. Was it an accident? As I watched that video back over and over, I was able to recall the training. Over and over and over again I had drilled this step on the punching bag, in the mirror, and on the mats. Never was there a reward while I was training the movement. In fact, it was boring to repeat the same thing over and over again. Even while I was doing it, I would question whether there was a point to doing this over and over. But, the more I did it, the faster I got, and the smoother my transitions felt! I got more explosive in my steps. I could feel that even thought there was no real reward to doing it, I was making progress. I started to repeat the pattern with less thought and more muscle memory. Until, eventually, it paid off. It was locked in because I stayed disciplined to create the consistency needed to cement that move into my arsenal.
Contrary to popular belief, discipline is not just about making sacrifices to achieve your goals; it's an investment into your future self. By cultivating discipline, you lay the critical foundation for future freedoms and creativity. It's about taking ownership of your actions and committing to a path that leads to personal and professional growth. Building that movement into my neuropathways was an investment for the future fighter. By the time I was ready to use it, I didn’t have to think about using it. That’s it! That is what discipline can do for us.
When we lift weights, we don’t feel immediate strength – in fact while you are lifting you actually likely feel weaker as the muscles fatigue! But as you practice staying disciplined, you build more consistently and one workout you realized that the weight you were using last month that felt so heavy, is too light now. Ah ha! PROGRESS! Eventually, as you keep on that path, you start to recognize the results.
While discipline can be challenging, especially in the face of adversity, it builds character and confidence. Practicing that side step over and over again was never actually done with the intent of moving that exact way for that exact kick. How could I have possibly predicted that it would happen like that in that exact moment to train for. It was actually just about building my confidence in my ability to move faster, smoother, more explosive, and with less thought. Having the confidence provided me the freedom to go into that competition feeling more relaxed and free. That freedom gave me the ability to move better and let my training take over. The disciplined practice opened the door for flow state. Building discipline teaches us the importance of accountability, of support systems, and the value of perseverance. Having the people who will be there to challenge you keeps you training, working on yourself, and striving for betterment. Having a structured training or a consistent form of check ins helps motivate your discipline. Your community is going to be key to your discipline, whether your working to be a better fighter, a better worker, or just a better version of yourself.
Discipline is the cornerstone of all success. It provides the structure and framework upon which goals are achieved and dreams are realized. My journey has taught me this, and now I am passionate about passing on the lessons where discipline is not just a practice; it's a way of life. Together, we can cultivate the discipline needed to unlock your full potential and achieve your wildest dreams.
Written by: Kyle Craik
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