Discipline Equals Freedom 

“Discipline is between choosing what you want now and what you want most.”

Abraham Lincoln

I woke up feeling a little extra grateful today. Then the idea of discipline equals freedom came to mind. Bear with me as I try to explain what I mean by this. The funny thing is if someone said discipline equals freedom to me in my twenties I would’ve laughed in their face. Enjoy this post as I attempt to explain my perspective on this topic.

What is discipline?

What is discipline? According to the American Heritage Dictionary – Discipline is Controlled behavior resulting from disciplinary training; and self-control. When I look at this definition and the quote above something that comes to mind is self-control.

Self-control and discipline were a tough but important lesson to learn in my life. Before I attempted discipline I lived by the illusion of obtaining what I wanted now and instant gratification. Sometimes this meant purchasing a new car or a new phone or video game system, looking for instant gratification. One thing I learned from these choices was that I never appreciated these things as much when I would simply purchase them when I wanted without the discipline to save for them and the journey of obtaining these things. This led to acquiring things before I could afford them (ie, credit cards and loans). Inevitably this only leads to more stress and frustration plus a lack of money and freedom. 

Discipline: The Path to Freedom

Learning discipline came in an unexpected place for me which turned into a life-long journey. It was through a gym membership, I will explain. Growing up I was always the skinny guy but I knew I wanted to look different and be strong. In my youth, I  had great heroes to look up to like Arnold Schwarzenegger and Stallone. I knew I wanted to look different to have the physique of my heroes. For years and years, this is something I wanted but unlike the material things, I could not simply purchase it on credit.

Not until my mid-twenties did I finally say enough is enough, I am going to go after this goal. I did the only thing I thought logical and joined a gym. After reading a book by Stallone called Sly Moves I was ready. I created a plan I would go to the gym no less than three days a week for one year. If I didn’t see any changes then I would give up and assume I can’t get stronger or bigger. Strange logic I know. In the beginning, I was nervous and self-conscious about going to the gym. I was so weak and did not know what I was doing except for what I learned from the book.

I stuck with my goal week after week, month after month. It wasn’t until around the fourth month that all of a sudden I realized I was gaining some strength (still minimal physical changes). Around month six I started noticing I was looking stronger and putting on some muscle, this was motivating me. Before I knew it I was going to the gym five days a week. At the end of the first year, I had gained around twenty pounds!

This was amazing and was the fuel to my fire. Not only did this lead to more motivation but also a great sense of satisfaction, for the first time in my life I set out to accomplish a goal and stuck with it. I realized if I wanted something I needed a plan and not let the excuses stop me. Seventeen years later I still love training and do it five days a week. I made training a habit and part of my life. It is my foundation, it is my reminder that I can accomplish my goals. 

Conclusion: Lessons a Long the Way

The story above was about how I found freedom in discipline. I love this quote from Marcus Aurelius “We should discipline ourselves in small things, and from these progress to things of greater value.” The simple goal had an amazing trickle-down effect. As I continued training I wanted more precise results and to get there I needed to start examining other areas to achieve the desired results. This led to fewer late nights of drinking, better food habits, and better sleep hygiene. It was a cascade of events that ultimately led me to a better life. The simple discipline I set forth for what started as a simple goal of looking different was a game changer in my life. Since then when I have an idea for something I want, I remind myself it’s about consistent small steps, and never giving up.

No matter what the thing is you are after. If it’s the new car, ask yourself what is the first step. Maybe it is creating a budget and tracking where your money is going then making a plan of how you will acquire this vehicle. When you put the discipline of a budget in place you can see where you may have some extra money in your budget or where you can cut back to enable you to afford the car.

This provides freedom knowing that you can afford the car without feeling stressed about “How will I make my next payment?” Needless to say, my view of the word discipline has changed into something positive during this journey. I learned that when I want to achieve something great I need to set forth a plan and have the discipline to stick with it. Don’t get me wrong, I still make mistakes I’m always on a path of self-examination making little tweaks and adjustments. It’s not about perfection but rather progress.