Do you ever get those days where you don’t feel motivated? This happens to everyone. Some days you feel apathetic and lazy, on others you feel fired up and ready to go. That’s why successful people are disciplined, they don’t depend on motivation alone.
But what’s the difference between the two?
In this article, I’ll answer this question in detail and explain how you can develop a disciplined mindset. A permanent one, that you can use for your own success. Finally, I’ll discuss the benefits of both and how you should use them throughout your life.
Ready to feel motivated? Oh no, erm, I mean self-disciplined. Well, both actually.
Let’s just move on.
What is Motivation?
Motivation is the driving force behind your actions. For example, when you’re hungry, you’re motivated to get food. When you feel cold, you become motivated to seek warmth. If you want more money, you’ll be motivated to work harder for a promotion
It’s the reason why you choose to act. Not only for basic survival needs, but towards your aspirations, goals, and desires.
There are two types of motivation, intrinsic and extrinsic.
Intrinsic motivation comes from within you.
It’s when you personally feel like doing something. It may be a passion of yours, or you find it enjoyable, interesting, and satisfying. For this reason, they hold a deeper purpose and meaning. This means you’ll likely have little problem feeling motivated to do the task or activity.
Extrinsic motivation arises from outside you.
This could involve striving for qualifications, rewards, money, praise, and social status. Or you could be trying to avoid negative consequences, such as failing an exam. As external motivators often hold less personal meaning, are short-lived, and temporary, you may find it harder to stay motivated acquiring them.
Motivation provides you with energy, drive, and determination when you need or want something. Yet, it has one fatal flaw that affects us all.
Motivation comes and goes like an emotion.
Have you ever felt motivated to exercise some days and not others? Do you always find it easy to work hard and remain focussed? Or at times, does it seem impossible to find the drive and determination? Motivation is fleeting, you cannot depend on it.
“Motivation gets you going, but discipline keeps you growing.”
— John C Maxwell
Why Does Motivation Come and Go?
There can be many reasons for for a lack of, or dip in motivation:
- Tiredness
- Fatigue
- Stress
- Feeling overwhelmed
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Other mental health disorders
- Conditions such as ADHD or Asperger’s
- Avoidance of negative feelings
- Fear of failure
- Procrastination
- A lack of passion or enthusiasm of the task
- Laziness
This list is endless. Do any of the above resonate with you? Motivation comes and goes for everyone. So, don’t feel bad if at times you also struggle to stay focussed on your goals. Oddly enough, people even procrastinate the things they want to do.
If you can’t depend on motivation then, what’s the answer? This is where discipline can be fundamental towards your success.
What is Discipline?
Discipline might sound like a scary word to some. It may remind you of strict, rigid, and controlling teachers disciplining children to behave a certain way, so that they obey the rules. But I’m talking about it in a different context here.
Self-discipline = a mindset.
It’s the ability to do the task at hand, regardless of how you’re feeling, physically or emotionally. To be successful you need to develop this mindset.
Think of a professional athlete. They are passionate about their sport, but do you think they always feel like training? They also get tired, deflated, and have off days. Yet, their profession requires rigorous training to be successful.
The same applies to entrepreneurs. Many run several successful businesses at once. The work is never-ending. They also have a lot of pressure, responsibilities, tasks to do, and people depending on their efforts.
Does an athlete or entrepreneur depend on motivation for their success? Absolutely not. They are self-disciplined. Over time, they have developed a mindset to remain determined, driven, and focussed, whether they are feeling motivated or not.
Impressive? Yes. Is it possible for you to do the same? 100% yes! Successful people are no different from you or me.
“Self-discipline is the ability to make yourself do what you should do, when you should do it, whether you feel like it or not.”
— Elbert Hubbard
How Can You Develop a Self-Disciplined Mindset?
You’re probably hoping for some kind of answer that will finally make everything click for you. Sadly, there is no magic bullet. There is no secret or quick fix. Sorry, but not sorry if that disappoints you. It’s the truth.
What’s the solution then?
Simply put, you must do the work, until it becomes like a habit.
You have to live that life, until it becomes like second nature. Discipline is about taking the hard road, to do what’s right, regardless of how you feel.
Want my advice on how to start? Challenge and push yourself every single day. Seem daunting? It shouldn’t be. You don’t have to run a marathon every day, it can be little things.
- Wake up earlier
- Learn a new skill
- Do something difficult
- Exercise
- Meditate
- Take a cold shower
- Say no to junk food
- Be compassionate towards yourself, or others
- Cultivate gratitude
Need other suggestions to challenge yourself? Check out some of my posts on the subject. Such as, 5 Inspiring Challenges to Empower Your Life, or 5 Powerful Challenges for Growth.
The only way to learn, grow, and develop is through challenge. Challenges are often difficult and uncomfortable. So, the more you do them, the easier it becomes to do difficult things. This also results in you feeling more comfortable in discomfort.
Do you see how this can help you to build a self-disciplined mindset? One which lasts. Providing you consistently do the work.
Take Advantage of Both in Your Life
Let me summarise the key differences between motivation and discipline.
Motivation comes and goes, discipline is permanent.
Motivation pushes you to start, but discipline keeps you going.
Motivation is unreliable, discipline is dependable.
Motivation is an event, but discipline is a lifestyle choice.
Motivation is limited, but you can grow discipline.
Both have their benefits, which you can take advantage of. When motivation comes, grab it, use it, and allow its momentum to push you forward. In the meantime, develop a self-disciplined mindset. One that you can rely on, when you lack the motivation to start or continue with a task.
Don’t expect a self-disciplined mindset to come out of thin air, it takes time to build. Challenge yourself. Seek discomfort. Utilise self-control and will power. Over time discipline will become like second nature. Like a habit.
When this happens, nothing can stand in your way. You’ll have the superpower to drive yourself forward no matter what. Enabling you to achieve your goals, dreams, and ambitions, without depending on motivation.
You now have the knowledge. And whether you believe it or not, you HAVE the ability. You’re no different from anybody else. So, what’s holding you back?
Did you find this article inspiring? I’d love to hear your feedback below.
Take care of yourselves,
Chris from Mindful Way to Be
