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You are here: Home / Hacks / Discipline is…

Discipline is…

February 22, 2011 By Joel Runyon 37 Comments

Discipline is

Discipline is…

Creating. Doing. Acting.

Every single day.

  • Even when you don’t feel like it.
  • Even when you forget why you’re doing it.
  • Even when you don’t think it matters.

Discipline is imposing your will on today. Over and over again. Refusing to be overcome by whatever is staring back at you.

Because someday.

  • You’ll wish you “felt” like it
  • You’ll remember why you’re doing it
  • You’ll realize what you’re doing matters

Someday is too late.

Have some discipline. Do something today.

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Filed Under: Hacks, The Impossible Tagged With: discipline, do something, every day

About Joel Runyon

I started IMPOSSIBLE to push myself to try to live a life worth writing about by pushing my limits, living an adventure & telling a great story by doing the impossible. You can get free updates in your inbox via your new favorite newsletter, free fitness training tutorials, and see all my businesses at Impossible X and our philanthropic efforts at Impossible.org

Comments

  1. Kurt Swann says

    February 22, 2011 at 3:08 pm

    Joel,

    Good reminder! And sometimes when I don’t “feel like it”, just getting started creates a little momentum and I end up doing more than I originally thought I could.

    Kurt

    Reply
    • Joel Runyon says

      February 22, 2011 at 5:04 pm

      To quote a wise little fish “just keep swimming, just keep swimming, just keep swimming.”

      Reply
      • Kurt Swann says

        February 23, 2011 at 12:05 am

        I thought “what? a wise little fish?” so I googled the quote and up pops Finding Nemo . . . how could I have doubted you 🙂

        Reply
        • Joel Runyon says

          February 23, 2011 at 2:06 am

          O ye of little faith 🙂

          Reply
      • Jelena Milosevic says

        February 23, 2011 at 1:45 am

        100 pushups? Did you make it? 😉

        Reply
        • Joel Runyon says

          February 23, 2011 at 2:07 am

          update coming soon!

          Reply
  2. 101 Things Before I Die says

    February 22, 2011 at 8:20 pm

    Just so I feel like I’m still working on my list, I break it down into yearly goals, then quarterly goals, and then still do updates every few weeks. That way, even something as simple as watching a movie can make me feel like I’m accomplishing something (as long as its a movie on my list!)

    Reply
    • Joel Runyon says

      February 22, 2011 at 11:35 pm

      Me too Jessica 🙂 I talk about that a little in this series, if you’re interested –> The Renaissance Man’s Guide To Doing Everything

      Reply
  3. Dawn Heckman says

    February 22, 2011 at 9:22 pm

    Hey, remember this morning when you wanted to cancel running because it was too cold? Glad I could teach you a few things about discipline 🙂 And I don’t even get a shout-out . . .

    Reply
    • Joel Runyon says

      February 22, 2011 at 11:26 pm

      I believe I was the one who suggested running to you 🙂

      Reply
  4. Brett says

    February 22, 2011 at 10:18 pm

    “A year from now, you’ll wish that you had started today.”

    That’s all I have to say, right there 🙂

    Reply
    • Joel Runyon says

      February 22, 2011 at 11:31 pm

      I’ve always liked – “The best time to plant a tree is twenty years ago. The second best time is now.”

      Reply
      • Brandon Winters says

        February 23, 2011 at 1:31 pm

        One of my favorites is “It’s never too late to start, but the best time was yesterday.”

        I like how you said it above – Imposing your will on today. Whether you like it or not, feel like doing it or not, whatever it might be – form the habit and you stride leaps and bounds ahead of others who aren’t willing to pick up the pace and have some self-discipline.

        Reply
        • Joel Runyon says

          February 23, 2011 at 3:23 pm

          That’s one of my favorites too :). Thanks for the comment Brandon!

          Reply
  5. David | Listen Feel Breathe says

    February 23, 2011 at 1:38 am

    Good one Joel– discipline is essential to make sure we don’t have too many regrets.

    Discipline or self discipline is missing in a lot of today’s young people so it’s always good to be reminded of it.

    We need to put the effort in to enjoy the rewards that follow.

    Reply
    • Joel Runyon says

      February 23, 2011 at 2:07 am

      Thanks for stopping by David! 🙂 Hope you stick around.

      Reply
  6. Jelena Milosevic says

    February 23, 2011 at 1:43 am

    True!
    “What you can do today , don’t leave it for tomorrow” One old Serbian wisdom 🙂
    This is stimulating post 🙂 Thx

    Reply
    • Joel Runyon says

      February 23, 2011 at 2:08 am

      I think that’s old human wisdom. Thanks Jelena!

      Reply
  7. Austin L. Church says

    February 23, 2011 at 10:41 am

    I always thought of discipline as Mickey Goldmill, Rockey’s trainer—a hard-as-nails veteran of the craft chomping on a cigar and loving me by kicking my ass. Inspiration was this girl Kristen that I fell in love with the summer before my sophomore year of college. Gosh, I wanted her, but if I had waited for her to come around, I would have been waiting forever. Writing or any other creative endeavor needs the gut-busting workouts with Mickey. No one ever won a Pulitzer or Nobel prize by waiting to feel inspired.

    Thanks for the reminder, Joel.

    Reply
    • Joel Runyon says

      February 23, 2011 at 3:22 pm

      I think the constant practice of discipline actually creates inspiration. That’s been my experience at least.

      Reply
  8. Nick Laborde says

    February 23, 2011 at 1:28 pm

    Like John Wooden says “Make every day your masterpiece”. You can’t do 70% today and then do 130% tomorrow.

    Reply
    • Joel Runyon says

      February 23, 2011 at 3:21 pm

      What if you go through a couple time zones and get 3 extra hours? 🙂

      Reply
      • Nick Laborde says

        February 23, 2011 at 4:33 pm

        Bonus, unless you go back a couple time zones 😉

        Reply
        • Joel Runyon says

          February 23, 2011 at 5:02 pm

          love it.

          Reply
  9. Kaari Busick says

    February 23, 2011 at 2:32 pm

    I know from experience that once I get the workout clothes on, I’m more likely to do it. The rule is to go for ten minutes, and if I want to stop then, I can. But I never do. Same thing goes for work. All it takes is getting started, then things build.

    Excellent post, Joel. Thanks!

    Reply
    • Joel Runyon says

      February 23, 2011 at 3:24 pm

      If you can put the shoes on, and get out the door, half the work is already done.

      Reply
  10. EndlessBucketList.com (Bryan) says

    February 23, 2011 at 4:01 pm

    “Someday is too late.”

    Couldn’t agree more. Without discipline we might be inclined to push things off to another day until we can no longer do them (e.g., 100 push ups at the age of 60). Haha.

    I’m trying to stay disciplined with planning a Kilmanjaro hiking trip and it seems like so much detail but it will be so worth it.

    Reply
    • Joel Runyon says

      February 23, 2011 at 5:03 pm

      My friend Jim Hodgson climbed Kilmanjaro. He might have some tips for you.

      Reply
  11. Howie says

    February 23, 2011 at 6:36 pm

    I can think of at least 10 of my friends who should read this post, Joel.

    Entrepreneurship isn’t for the faint of heart. Discipline is a must.

    Thanks for the post man,
    Howie

    Reply
    • Joel Runyon says

      February 24, 2011 at 12:54 am

      Sure thing Howie 🙂 Feel free to pass it along to anyone who it might help!

      Reply
  12. Jon says

    February 26, 2011 at 3:24 pm

    Discipline is everything. It’s also every day; I agree. The hardest part is making productivity a part of your routine. Once it becomes a habit then you feel compelled to stay on task. You feel guilty if you don’t do what you are/were supposed to be doing.

    Turning daily to-do into a habit takes several uninterrupted weeks of designing a new routine. If you can get over the hump; then momentum will carry you the rest of the way.

    Reply
    • Joel Runyon says

      February 27, 2011 at 2:25 am

      I’m not sure discipline is about “feeling guilty” about not doing what you’re supposed to. I think discipline is learning to create a routine, even when you don’t feel like it but it’s difficult, but hopefully it’s not about “guilting” you into doing something you really don’t want to.

      Reply
      • Jon says

        February 27, 2011 at 11:11 am

        Right. It came across negatively but perhaps “guilt” can be reworded as “feeling drawn to..” or “compelled to..” I certainly wouldn’t encourage people to grind away at something that they don’t want or like to do. They’ll simply burn out and be miserable. Thanks for pointing this out, Joel.

        Reply
        • Joel Runyon says

          February 28, 2011 at 10:30 pm

          “compelled” is a good alternative :). Thanks for the great comment Jon!

          Reply

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