Discipline and Why It's Better than Motivation

by Marc A.

Webster defines motivation as "the condition of being eager to act or work". Motivation is awesome! It's that wonderful feeling that makes you want to do exactly what it is you want to do. It's what spurs you to action. It makes you want to start eating better. It makes you go for that run or get that workout in. It makes weight loss all the more easier because your mind is in it with you. There are plenty of different types of motivations to be healthy and fit: you want to lose weight, you want to lower your blood pressure, you want to run run a race, you want to be fit, or simply you just want to improve your health. When you're motivated, life is awesome. 

However, there are those moments where motivation is lacking. Despite how much you way want to, you can't bring yourself to act the way you know you should. You know you shouldn't eat that whole cake, but you do it. You know you should get that run in today but you can't bring yourself to do it. When you're not motivated, life sucks.

There is a remedy though. Discipline.

Discipline removes your mind from the equation. Discipline keeps you in line. Discipline takes the appropriate action whether you're motivated or not. Discipline helps create a habit. Discipline follows the rules which you have set forth whether you're motivated or not. 

How do you create discipline? Simple (not easy), just do it. Don't give your mind a chance to talk you out of it. Better yet, tell your mind to shut up. So often we rely on our minds to dictate what our bodies should do when we should be doing it the other way around. We think ourselves out of it. Sometimes your body has to step in and just say "shut up, I'm going to do this and that's final!" Let your body convince your mind. Do it enough times and eventually it becomes a habit and it becomes automatic. You, my friends, will have created discipline!

Motivation is based on how you feel, motivation is fleeting. Discipline, once created and fostered, is automatic. Your degree of motivation becomes less of an influence and as your level of discipline increases, motivation can even become a non factor. You just know to do it and you just do it.

This can apply to all areas of health but it especially applies to health and fitness where so many of us lack discipline AND motivation. If you're motivated right now, awesome, go get 'em tiger! However, if you're not, go do it anyway. Give it a shot even if you don't want to. Then do it again. And again. Develop that invaluable discipline. You body, and even your mind, will thank you.

Marc A. is the editor and founder of the health and wellness blog, Dr. Marctagon™, and he also runs a tech company and blog, Marctagon™ IT where he offers his consulting services and discusses the latest news, productivity tools and technology for homes and small businesses.