Mastering Discipline: The reminder you need to stay consistent

We all know what it feels like to face tasks we don’t want to do—the early mornings, the uncomfortable work, the discipline that stretches us beyond our comfort zone. 

But the truth is, those very moments often hold the key to our biggest growth.

In today’s story, I’ll share a simple lesson my son taught me before his first soccer game of the season—one that can shift the way you approach challenges in your personal growth journey, your profession, and your overall life.

If you’ve ever struggled with staying consistent, finding motivation, or pushing through resistance, this perspective might be exactly what you need to stay focused on your vision this week.

You have to break your routine

My son had his first soccer game of the season this weekend.

Normally, Saturdays are his chance to sleep in. But this time, his coach asked the team to wake up early so they’d be ready for an early morning kickoff.

For him, this was new. He admitted it would be tough—he’d have to go to bed earlier, wake up earlier, and break out of the comfort of his usual routine.

And as any parent knows, disrupting a 6-year old’s routine is a recipe for an irritable kid!

I joked with him and said: “We’re not going to be cranky when we have to wake up early are we?”

Then he said something that stopped me…“Well…When you wake me up, can you remind me I have a soccer game to look forward to? Because that will make it fun.”

Now that’s perspective—Sometimes the clearest truths come from the smallest voices…

He realized that if he focused on the challenge—getting up earlier—it would feel like a burden. 

But if he focused on the vision and the experience he was about to have—playing the game he enjoys—it became easier to do the hard thing.

And isn’t that the same for us as adults, leaders, business owners, and creators?

There will always be things that feel uncomfortable, inconvenient, or unfamiliar. 

But when you remind yourself of the bigger picture—the vision you’re working toward, the impact you want to make, the rewards on the other side…

Discipline becomes easier.

So here’s the takeaway:Don’t just focus on the “hard thing” in front of you this week. Remind yourself of the why. The life and the experiences you’re preparing for. The vision that makes it worth it.

That’s what gives you the fuel to stay consistent.

WAYS TO TAKE ACTION:

1. Each morning, before diving into tasks, write down one reminder of why you’re doing the hard things—the “life” you’re preparing for. It could be the business you’re building, the people you’re serving, or the life you’re creating for yourself.

2. Then, whenever resistance shows up, read that reminder. Let it pull you forward.

3. Also, choose one of these simple mantras to repeat when you feel resistance or deal with challenges with being consistent this week:

• “I’m not just doing the hard thing—I’m preparing for the life I’m meant to live.”

• “Discipline feels lighter when I focus on the vision, not the discomfort.”

• “Each small step today moves me closer to the future I’m building.”

• “My vision is bigger than my resistance.”

• “I remind myself daily: The challenge is part of the reward.”