Principles, Parenting & Purpose

Discipline Yourself

May 26, 2018

“I don’t feel like running today. I don’t feel like waking up early. I don’t feel like writing today. I don’t feel…”

Why do we feel that our feelings should be so central to our actions?

Why do we believe that our feelings should dictate our choices?

Feelings certainly have value. And we should watch them carefully. But, we should see them as small children. Adorable, when well behaved, and in need of discipline when not.

Be compassionate with your feelings. Listen to them carefully. But understand your relationship to them well: You are in charge—or, at least, you should be.

When the roles are reversed, as with children, your life will be thrown into chaos.

A simple axiom to follow helps you shift the balance:

“Don’t wait to feel like it before you do it…

do it, and eventually, you’ll feel like it.”

The same idea comes in many forms:

“You will never always be motivated,

so first, you must be disciplined.”

Don’t wait for motivation. Discipline yourself.