Discipline > Motivation
A couple of days ago I did a podcast with Ashlee Evans Smith(which was such a wonderful time - it’s called sex and violence with rebel girl if you are interested in listening to it). One of the fan questions was, “how do you stay motivated.”
The truth is, I'm not very motivated nowadays. I used to be highly motivated by wanting a better life. Not wanting to struggle anymore. Wanting to prove that I could come from the small town of Wai’anae and make it big. I wanted to represent my family and people well. These things all kept me going for a very long time.
Over the last few years I began reaping the rewards of the work I've been doing and I now have a very comfortable life. There was a season that I struggled to find my WHY or my MOTIVATION because I had arrived to this place of complete happiness and satisfaction with where my life was. Not to say that I didn’t want more. It’s just that I’m a simple person so what I have now is much more than I ever dreamed of.
I always answer this the same way because it’s the truth: I’m hardly ever motivated nowadays but I’m ALWAYS disciplined. I know this topic is made into instagram quotes and used in motivational speeches and captions every single day around the world but there is a small amount of people who live this way. It is a hard thing to do.
Whatever it is you want, whatever it is you’re working toward, you must make the process to obtain it a nonnegotiable item in your life. I can write down a 10 step process of how to get there but the truth is, getting up every single day and just doing it is what’s worked for me. On the rainy days, tired days, I don’t feel my best days you need to stay disciplined. Wake up and do it no matter what you feel physically, mentally or emotionally.
A few weeks ago I suffered an injury that left me stuck in bed and physically unable to do a lot of things on my own. If you saw me then you would not believe that it was possible for me to be walking a week later. I was in terrible shape. There was a day that I began having negative thoughts and feelings about what was going on. I didn’t know exactly what was going on with me or how bad it could be. I was expecting to fight in Europe in a few weeks and had to cancel those plans. I was not able to do what I love every day and it was hard. When I started having those thoughts I immediately shut them out. Instead I asked myself: ‘what can I do to get better faster?’
I created a schedule for myself so that I’d stay on track with my recovery(physically, mentally and emotionally). I woke up at the same time everyday. At first I could only do a short stretch routine and walk on the treadmill as exercise so I did that. A couple of days later I was feeling less pain and had more movement so I was able to add some exercises to my regimen. I scheduled massages, chiropractor appointments and even sessions with my therapist to keep my mind and emotions stable. I scheduled an MRI and once I got the results I knew what was safe to do so I added more to my routine. I also made sure I was sticking to a strict diet to keep my body feeling good so it could heal. Why I did this was for many reasons and one being that if I was sticking to a schedule, making daily goals and making sure I was still eating well - I knew I would feel good and in return not fall into a dark or sad place. I could have easily said, “Oh well I’m injured and I’m not competing so I can eat whatever I want! I don’t have to work out since I’m hurt,” and let myself go. At this point I had no motivation or why to keep going. But that is where discipline comes in. Working out, eating healthy, making healthy choices for my mind and body are all non negotiable items in my day to day life. Even in the worst of seasons! No matter what happens I need to stay disciplined so I can hit all of my short and long term goals. I never look at enjoying temporary satifsaction but rather enjoying the fruits of my long term accomplishments.
I read something the other day that I’ll leave you all with: Decide what kind of life you really want and then say no to everything that isn’t that.
It can really be as simple as that. Say no to the extra spending, extra scoop of rice, the trip you’ll have to put on a credit card that isn’t necessary, the brand name purse, the outing that replaces a non negotiable task in your day. Every single day, one task at a time, ONLY move closer to your end goal and not further away.
