Here’s Why Discipline Is The Enemy
“The road of excess leads to the palace of wisdom…You never know what is enough until you know what is more than enough.”
― William Blake
“Discipline is the enemy?!”
“What are you talking about, Zaid?”
Self-control is a valuable skill to learn in the 21st century, especially considering that you live in a hedonistic society.
But what people don’t tell you is that there is an ugly side to discipline.
Allow me to explain..
Here’s An Important Distinction To Understand
There are two types of discipline:
One stems from love, while the other stems from fear.
I made this distinction only after I had enough experience with the subject of self-control, and it has helped immensely.
For months, I would practice discipline, yet find myself taking two steps forward and three steps back. It was fucking frustrating because I knew that my actions were sabotaging my work and aspirations.
One moment changed everything, though…
I realized that my mentality hurt me more than it was helping because I had a stick up my ass.
I practiced discipline because I was motivated by fear, not love.
And that distinction makes all the difference in your results.
Here’s Why Neurotic Discipline Never Works
Nothing excellent and sustainable comes from a neurotic mentality.
When I struggled to get results, I destroyed myself with negative self-talk and even harsher, more unrealistic standards of living.
Neuroticism doesn’t work because it makes you believe that the world is black and white when it is gray.
You think that there is only a choice between option A or option B, yet the reality is more complicated than that.
Self-control is admirable, but there are times when discipline is NOT the best option considering the context.
If it’s your birthday, the choice to have a piece of cake is an excellent one.
If you are celebrating the birth of your newborn, there is nothing wrong with having a glass of alcohol.
When on vacation, the act of leaving work alone is the best one so that you can spend time with your family.
It’s all about having an understanding of timing. There is an excellent time to practice self-control, and there are other times when it’s wise to let go.
How To Find Motivation From Love
I’ll give you one solid piece of personal development advice..
Think about the long term.
Understand that one or two unhealthy choices won’t doom you to a miserable life. You have time to choose healthy alternatives.
The last thing you want is to become the paranoid health or personal development freak with a stick up your ass.
Ironically, worrying about your health or growth makes the situation worse.
Learn how to let go when the time comes — celebrations are a good example of times when it’s wise to not be disciplined.
I can assure you that acting from love makes you feel better than the alternative.
So, what the hell are you waiting for?
