There is something wrong with our society.
A fact I have been aware of ever since I realized the difference between motivation and discipline.
While we are literally bathing in motivational slogans that promise to help us go outside our comfort zone. People fail to permanently change their condition because they are not disciplined enough to embrace the struggle associated with a life well lived.
For example, many people have great intentions about how their lives should unfold. Common desires we all have are…
- I want to have a sexy body…
- I want to travel the world…
- I want to own pretty much everything that catches my interest…
- I want to win the admiration of half the world and build great things…
- I want to work a stable, yet adventurous job where my boss treats me like a friend, but not exactly like a friend because I also want him to respect me and pay me a shitload of cash…
Sadly, these wants rarely translate into actionable steps that one should pursue daily. They are mere statements. Not building blocks for a brighter future.
While it’s easy to feel motivated to “change your world”. I mean, you simply open your go-to social media and see how a 17-year-old made $50K in one day selling PDF downloadables. Then you feel excited about a couple of days – trying to replicate the conditions of the successful superstars online. Alas, your motivation diminishes the moment a challenge arises. The moment you realize that self-improvement is never ever truly complete.
Motivation can help you feel emotionally aroused to do something – to make changes to your life. However, only through self-discipline, you actually accomplish what you dream about.
Many people believe that motivation and discipline are the same thing. They use them interchangeably, thinking that motivation is discipline – and that discipline is motivation.
Though they have some touching points, they mean quite different things.
Motivation is what gets you started.
Discipline is what keeps you going.
In this publication, we look at motivation vs. discipline. Unraveling their essences – and their differences. Plus, seeking which of these two pillars is the main key to transcend in a world dominated by short-term thinking.
Motivation vs. Discipline – Definitions
Let’s define motivation and discipline, starting with motivation:
Hey there, sorry to interrupt…
Since you’ve come this far, it seems that you are passionate about pursuing depth over distraction. I am too! And while what I’m about to say next probably won’t quite excite you, I have to say it…
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- Motivation. Wikipedia. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motivation
- Cofer, Charles N. and Petri, Herbert L.. “motivation”. Encyclopedia Britannica. Available at: https://www.britannica.com/topic/motivation
- Radel R, Pjevac D, Davranche K, d’Arripe-Longueville F, Colson SS, Lapole T, Gruet M. “Does intrinsic motivation enhance motor cortex excitability?”. Psychophysiology. 53 (11): 1732–1738. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1111/psyp.12732
- McClure, S. M., & Bickel, W. K. (2014). A dual-systems perspective on addiction: contributions from neuroimaging and cognitive training. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 1327, 62–78. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1111/nyas.12561
