Choosing What You Want "Most” Over Want "Right Now"
Dear Collective,
It's a new week, and I want to talk about what discipline means. Discipline is just picking what you want most over what you want right now.
It sounds easy, but we all know it's one of the hardest things to do. We live in a world that is basically designed for instant gratification. We can have almost anything we want delivered to our door in a few hours. Our phones are built to give us a hit of dopamine every few seconds. Everything around us is screaming at us to take what we want "right now."
But discipline is different. It’s about having the restraint to endure something difficult because you’re hoping for something better down the road.
Think about it. If adding muscle and getting healthier didn't help you live longer, nobody would do the work. If it didn't give you more time with your family or more energy to live your life, no one would show up. It’s a trade. You’re trading the comfort of the couch "right now" for the strength you want "the most."
The same goes for everything else we're proud of. People who are successful in their careers didn't get there by accident. They had to turn down the fun events and the easy nights out so they could focus on their craft. People don't finish school or master a new skill without looking at a situation and saying, "I need to give this thing up over here to get that thing I want further down the road."
Discipline is just recognizing that you’re in a long-term relationship with your future self.
When you show restraint, you aren't punishing yourself. You’re actually showing that you understand your own value. You’re saying that the "you" six months from now is worth the struggle you’re feeling today.
This week, I want you to look at your choices through that lens. When you’re faced with a decision that feels tough, ask yourself:
Is this what I want "right now," or is it what I want "the most"?
Am I willing to be a little uncomfortable today to make things better for my future self?
Where can I show a little more restraint so I can make more room for growth?
Don't let the "right now" version of you talk you out of the version you’re trying to build. Stick to the plan. Stay relentless. Choose your "most."
With Strength and Discipline,
Charlie, We The Collective Fitness