Discipline drowns out the noise—what others think, what you think—it says, “I don’t care; I’m doing this regardless.” It is the beating heart of any goal worth achieving. For 956 days, I’ve posted a blog article. Discipline is paramount, whether it’s a single sentence, a photo on days when I have less to give, or a well-thought-out article worth sharing. Without it, distractions and deprioritization run rampant, like coyotes hunting unsuspecting rabbits at night.
The most dangerous thought we can have is, “I don’t have to do it.” This thought barges in like Kramer, slamming through the door when we’re most vulnerable. It’s dangerous because it’s true and a sneaky snuffer outer of our goals.
Rooted in Values and Passion
This is why goals must be firmly rooted in our values and passions. For instance, I value showing up and commitment. Even when things are hard, these values serve as my North Stars. In addition, I am passionate about writing. Once I stripped away the gunk of expectations and pressures surrounding my writing, I found my voice and style—and I’ve been having much more fun. Especially when it comes to our passions, we MUST have fun.
I see goals as a juggling act, with discipline being one ball we learn to toss and catch. At 956 catches, I’m intrigued by adding another ball. That new ball looks like creating content that can consistently be shared with a broader audience.
To do so, I had to choose between keeping a stream-of-consciousness diary for my friends and family or refining my message into a more polished, educated, and informative article style.
I chose the latter. Now, I’m outlining, creating sections, refining my message, and improving the succinctness of each post’s meaning.
Building a Supportive Community
Another layer that contributes to discipline is community. We cannot succeed independently, so seeking out people who get you and understand your “why” makes a difference more than words can measure. Years ago, my attempt to blog daily dwindled to a small flame that eventually went out for this reason.
Maybe you, too, have a goal you haven’t yet figured out how to reach. Do it. Wake up every day and do it. Whether it’s for five minutes or an hour, just do it. Tell others about it. Even if they look at you sideways and question why. If you talk, someone will eventually listen and say, “How cool!”—and you’ll have found one more member of your tribe.
The future holds whatever I want it to; that I know. Whether I take this blog and its message, lessons, and fun to a Spanish-speaking community (another passion of mine!), promote it on Pinterest, or find another social media outlet, I plan on using my support system and finding something each day we can all connect and relate to.
In the meantime, take care.
Love,
Jaclynn