We often think we need more discipline. But what we’re actually after is something completely different. And this something completely different is exactly what we’ll explore together today.
At its core, discipline is one pathway to solve a challenge we’re facing. This challenge might sound something like this:
- I want to wake up earlier
- I want to be more focused
- I want to get into the habit of running
More often than not, our singular hope with discipline is this:
Being consistent.
Because the challenge is not waking up earlier for a day or two, it’s doing it over extended periods of time. The challenge is not to stay focused for the next 30 minutes but for the next year. For running, it’s the same: you want to stay consistent, even on a rainy, cold day.
But discipline is only one pathway towards consistency. So let’s explore an alternative one.
Push vs. Pull
In everything we do, we can either
A. push more, or
B. create more pull.
Pushing falls in the area of discipline. Pushing has a “must” or “should” quality to it.
Alternatively, when we create pull, we are drawn to what we want to achieve. We are in the realm of “wants”.
With pull, we create such a compelling goal and path so that we want to take action.
The Soultion
The great news: We can deliberately create pull. And it starts with asking a simple question:
“How might a joyful version of [fill in what you want to achieve] look like?”
Let’s take running as an example: “How might a joyful version of running look like?”
Asking this question opens up a whole world of solutions like
- Smiling at people I encounter
- Calling a good friend during the run
- Listening intently to my surroundings
- Going off on trails (vs. staying on the road)
- Running slower
The solution to discipline is usually singular: endure the discomfort. The solution to joyfulness is usually plural. The solutions you come up with might be deep, rich, creative and sometimes even funny. Experiment with this alternative pathway.