Warning: your brain may explode upon reading

Discipline has been the name of the game in our weekly emails lately, and the train doesn’t stop today.

First, I want to share words from another successful FitWitter, Connie, who has been rocking FitWit for years. One of her claims to fame – after 20 years of a certain medication, her doc says she doesn’t need it anymore because she regularly attends FitWit.

Connie says,

At my first banquet, Ginger told me that the secret to all of this was to just keep showing up. That meant a lot because I was experiencing a lot of knee and shoulder pain. I wasn’t going to give up because I knew that I wasn’t going to get better if I did. That was a certainty! But it helped hearing those words. Also, you’ve hit the nail on the head, Josh. When inspiration and motivation dies, your discipline has to kick in. You have to want it more than you want to sleep in or have that glass of wine when you get home from work. You have to make it a priority. It works because I’ve rearranged my life and lifestyle around what helps me to feel better physically, mentally, and emotionally. I hope this helps someone. I really do. I just know that this works, and I’m living proof!

Keep on rocking in the free world, Connie.

Secondly, I read something this week may qualify as “the most profound thing I’ve read all year.” I know this isn’t saying much given that my nights usually consist of Dr. Seuss, Harry Potter and Magic Tree House. Nonetheless, hold on to your seat. 

Dallas Willard, though primarily discussing spiritual disciplines, writes this:

A discipline is an activity within our power – something we can do – that brings us to a point where we can do what we at present cannot do by direct effort.  

[Tiny explosion in my brain.] Whoa.

If ever there was a “How to” sentence on completing goals and transforming your life, this is THE sentence. 

Whether that thing for you is weight loss or learning to play guitar, do you see the transformative power in discipline?

If you haven’t been able to make it happen by your own direct effort or being inspired or being motivated, there is hope for you. Daily disciplines, those small things within your power to do every single day, combine to make those seemingly impossible things for you. . . a reality.

And it follows then, as you may have experienced, that almost every significant achievement in life is impossible without it. As in, NOT going to happen for you . . . no matter how bad you want it . . . unless you practice discipline. 

That’s powerful stuff, and it gets me excited as I plan my own goals for 2018. Hope it rings true for you too!