Discipline Is the Key to Everything You Want
Do you know the real reason you aren't where you want to be? It’s not a lack of motivation. Motivation is fleeting at best and completely useless at worst. The truth? You lack discipline.
Discipline is the bridge between the person you are right now and the person you want to become. Whether we're talking about hitting your fitness goals, excelling in your career, or transforming your life, discipline is the one thing that will get you there. And if you haven’t developed it yet, you’re not alone. Most people walk around thinking something is wrong with them—that they’re broken because they’re not motivated. Nothing could be further from the truth.
This article is going to strip it all down for you. You’ll learn why motivation won’t save you, why discipline will, and how to build discipline into your daily life to finally start achieving the results you want.
Do You Want It, Need It, or Should Do It?
Before we even get into discipline, you need to understand the difference between your wants, needs, and shoulds. Each one demands a very different level of commitment.
Wants are easy. You want pizza? Cool, call delivery. You want to binge-watch your favorite show? Grab the remote.
Needs require more effort. You need to pay your bills, brush your teeth, and sleep. You may not want to do them, but you do them because the consequences of skipping them are unavoidable.
Shoulds are where most people fall apart. You should skip the pizza and make a healthy meal. You should get to the gym three or four times a week. You should get out of bed without hitting snooze. But do you?
Here’s where it gets even trickier. You want a fit, healthy body, but you don’t want to put in the effort to get it. You want to eat better, but meal prepping every week? Not so much. This is where the shoulds live. Doing what you should do is never automatic—it’s a choice. It’s not easy, and nobody is coming to save you or do it for you.
That’s why people hire trainers like me. My job is to help you push through the things you don’t want to do. You pay me to hold you accountable, to make sure those shoulds turn into actions—until they become habits that transform your life. That’s where discipline starts.
Motivation Is a Lie
Motivation tells a great story, doesn’t it? You see someone crushing it in the gym or absolutely grinding in their career, and you think, “They must be so motivated.” Nope. They’re disciplined.
Motivation is like a sugar rush; it gives you an initial boost, but it burns off fast. Maybe you watched a hype video on YouTube and thought, “This is it! I’m going to run five miles tomorrow morning!” The alarm goes off, it’s still dark, and suddenly that fire is out. Now what?
Discipline steps in when motivation runs for the hills. You don’t run that five miles because you’re motivated. You run it because you told yourself you would. You made a commitment. You follow through because you know the alternative is failure.
Discipline in Health and Fitness
Now, apply this mindset to health and fitness. Be honest. Do you actually want to eat a bowl of kale instead of a burger and fries? Do you want to drag yourself to the gym after a tiring day? Of course not. But funny enough, I think the burger might actually get you better results than the kale—just turn it into a burger bowl with a kale salad on the side. You know what you need to do if you want to see results.
Discipline is showing up to the gym even when your bed is calling your name. It’s meal prepping when you’d rather grab something convenient. It’s swapping four hours of Netflix after your 9-to-5 to focus on your 5-to-9: an hour of lifting, an hour of cooking, an hour prepping for tomorrow, and just one hour of Netflix (let’s be honest, there’s nothing good on there anymore).
Yes, it’s challenging. You’ll battle cravings for junk food. Some days, you’ll feel too lazy to push forward. But every time you choose what’s right over what’s easy, you’re strengthening your discipline—arguably the most vital muscle of all.
Why Most People Fail at Fitness Goals
Most people blame their failures on a lack of willpower or assume they’re just not wired to succeed. That's nonsense. What they actually lack is the discipline to stick with a routine long enough to see results.
The key here is consistency. One healthy meal won’t change your body, just like skipping one workout won’t ruin your progress. But string together enough disciplined decisions over time, and you’ll be shocked by what you can achieve.
How to Build Discipline
Building discipline isn’t complicated, but it isn’t easy either. It’s a process, and it requires determination and patience. Here are some practical steps to help you get started:
Start Small
Trying to overhaul your entire life all at once is a recipe for burnout. Instead, start with one or two small habits. Go for a 20-minute walk three times a week or swap soda for water at lunch. Build momentum with small wins.
Commit to a Routine
Habits are the foundation of discipline. Set a clear schedule for your workouts, meals, and sleep. The more automatic it becomes, the less you’ll have to rely on willpower.
Get Comfortable Being Uncomfortable
Discipline means doing things you don’t want to do. Getting up early is uncomfortable. Sweating through a workout is uncomfortable. Eating a salad instead of pizza is uncomfortable. But guess what? Those moments of discomfort lead to growth.
Find Your Why
Why are you doing this? If your goal is to lose weight, get specific. Are you trying to have more energy for your kids? Feel confident in your clothes? Whatever it is, keep that reason front and center.
Track Your Progress
Nothing motivates discipline like seeing results. Keep a journal of your workouts, meals, or any other habits you’re working on. Celebrate small milestones along the way.
Hold Yourself Accountable
Nobody is going to do this for you. You have to be your own coach. Set clear goals and consequences. Didn’t hit the gym? No takeout this week. Skip a workout? Schedule a makeup session. Be tough on yourself, but fair.
Discipline Is Freedom
When you develop discipline, something incredible happens. You start to see results. You lose the extra weight, build confidence, and create a life you’re proud of. But even more than that, you’ll discover true freedom.
Freedom from the excuses that have held you back. Freedom from the exhausting cycle of relying on motivation. Freedom from the regret of what could have been.
Discipline changes everything. The choice is yours. Are you ready to step up?