Discipline is about pushing yourself beyond your limits. It means increasing the effort, the time, or the difficulty — whether it’s in sports, at work, or in your hobbies.
What we call discipline is, in the end, a planned effort.
If there’s no planned effort, the concept of discipline collapses.
A well-known book, Flow by Csikszentmihalyi, explains that the best moments in life come when we push our body or mind to the limit for something difficult but worthwhile.
This is what discipline is: a plan to get things done, but also the effort to go further. For example, when I read or do research and it requires more effort, I feel that I’m pushing myself. The same goes for working out: repeating what I already know doesn’t push me. But if I add a little more weight or a few extra reps, that’s when I feel the stretch.
If you don’t make an effort, your skills and knowledge fall asleep. They become ordinary, and over time, they deteriorate. Your brain and body need challenges to grow — that’s how your life becomes richer.
At first, it’s hard to start new things, but once you see that you’re making progress, it becomes enjoyable. Jack Welch, a well-known CEO, popularized the idea of “stretch goals” at work. It helps to avoid boredom, stay motivated, and prevent burnout.
Have you set such challenges for yourself this year?
Stretch goals put you back on the path of self-improvement.
Especially when they’re goals that push you to become who you’re meant to be.
But be careful — take it slowly to avoid stress. And don’t forget to give meaning to what you do, otherwise you might lose motivation.
Finally, discipline yourself to say no to useless distractions and yes to the things that truly matter.
How can you push yourself a little more to stay motivated and alive?
Mario Mason
Talents Coach
