Motivation isn't always an easy element to find. In life, as emotional and dynamic human beings we are often affected by our atmospheres and circumstances. We can wake up feeling energized only to hours later feel the empowerment drain from our bodies and spirits.
Discipline hasn't always come easy for me, but I remember when I started to really understand it.
I was in highschool and something in me wanted to learn how to figure skate. I barely knew how to skate forwards let alone attempt a simple waltz jump. But there was something in that sport I loved. A combination of artistry, athleticism and determination.
Discipline.
To be an athlete you have to be disciplined. I put in the time of joining a class of 4-6 year olds, being the single sixteen-year-old amidst them, our helmets on and learning the simple basic elements of skating. I showed up at the rink during my free periods, after school and on weekends I started realizing that not only was I loosing weight, feeling fit, learning a skill I was aching to learn, I was also learning what it took to be disciplined.
Elements of Discipline
Show Up
When you have a dream, goal, vision, desire, the first step is showing up. That is LITERALLY 50% of the battle. Then you do the work. It could be sucky ass work. It could be work that isn't showing any progress but it ALL counts.
Set the Atmosphere
Whatever it is you are trying to do, it can't be done well if the atmosphere goes against it. As a writer, for me, this looks like dressing the way I think my type of writer would dress, keeping a tidy and clean desk space so I can get to work at a moments inspiration, having a scented candle to light while I write, a fuzzy mat for my toes and fun mugs for my coffee. It means having a Living Room that is centred around stories, sharing and music, it means having healthy meals pre-made so I can think less and yet still be wooed by my palate. Think about what you are trying to do and all the elements that can come along side to support it.
Quality Over Quantity
We live in a world of excess so it's easy to get distracted with the events, requests, desires and life going on around you. The truth is, the work is always better when it is given quality attention. You can put time in that is empty of value because it had less than half your true attention. Reach for the quality. For me, that means three solid writing sessions a week. I get more done in those single three sessions than if I had five.
Tailor Life
So many expectations from others, yourself and circumstances. What is important is that any distractions and unnecessary elements to the work is stripped away. This means saying no. Saying no to things you might be relieved to say no to and saying no to things that might be hard to say no to.
Give Grace & Move On
& there are times when we are just completely overwhelmed, shocked or hindered because of how life treats us. We just can't do it today. That is okay. That is when we give ourselves Grace and keep going. Let yourself feel it, experience the grace and then move on and get back to it.
WOMAN WHO HAVE INSPIRED ME IN DISCIPLINE