Discipline
Posted on Dec 8 - 2024
Do it until it feels like you

I decided to wake up every day at five in the morning.
But to do this, I need discipline.

Discipline is one of the most important qualities we can cultivate in our daily lives.

It is not just an abstract virtue or a philosophical concept, but a real tool that allows us to achieve goals, overcome difficulties, and build a better version of ourselves. Deciding to adopt a new routine, such as waking up very early in the morning to dedicate time to reading, learning, physical exercise, or other meaningful activities, is a perfect example of how discipline can lead to positive change.

Every change, no matter how positive, is always accompanied by a certain degree of initial difficulty.

The body and mind are creatures of habit; what we do regularly becomes part of our being, while any deviation from the known path can seem uncomfortable or even discouraging. Waking up early often means going against the natural rhythm to which our body has adapted, especially if we have been used to sleeping later and getting up leisurely until now.

At first, waking up at the crack of dawn can seem like a Herculean task, with eyes closing, the bed seeming more inviting than ever, and the temptation to postpone the alarm being strong. However, it is precisely at this moment that the power of discipline manifests itself. It is the constant call to a greater goal, the desire to improve, to grow, that helps us overcome the initial inertia and take the first step.

Adopting a new routine is not a decision to be taken lightly. It is not simply about waking up early, but about reorganizing the entire life system to make this change sustainable. If I decide to get up every day at five in the morning, I must necessarily consider that my body needs adequate rest. This means also adjusting the time I go to sleep. It is a delicate balance; if I merely sacrifice hours of sleep without properly managing the rest of the day, the benefits of the new routine could be nullified by accumulated fatigue.

Awareness, therefore, plays a crucial role.

You cannot introduce a new habit without reflecting on the consequences it entails.

It is essential to plan carefully, make trials and adjustments, and accept that the first days might be more challenging than expected.

The good news is that, over time, everything becomes easier. The initial difficulty of waking up early, which seems almost insurmountable in the first days, gradually diminishes. The key lies in repetition; what we do regularly transforms into a habit, and what is a habit becomes normal. That sense of fatigue that accompanies us at the beginning gradually gives way to surprising naturalness.

This transformation is one of the greatest triumphs of discipline; it allows us to build a new routine that not only becomes sustainable but can also bring tangible benefits. The mind wakes up clearer, the body feels more energetic, and the quiet hours of the morning prove to be a precious space to cultivate one’s interests without distractions.

Every change, although challenging, brings with it an opportunity.

In deciding to adopt a more disciplined routine, there is no absolute certainty that the benefits will be immediate or spectacular, but this should not discourage us. Discipline is not a restriction but a form of freedom; it allows us to take control of our lives, to consciously choose our actions, and to achieve goals that would otherwise remain unrealized dreams. Even if the change is difficult, its potential for transformation is always worth it.