Pain of Discipline vs. Pain of Regret
"Without discipline, there’s no life at all." – Katharine Hepburn
While listening to a sports show, one of the analysts was talking about how he learned the value of commitment during the early years of his NFL career.
He said, “Our coach made it clear that we needed to make a decision for ourselves. We had the choice to accept the pain of discipline vs. the pain of regret.”
As I heard the rest of the show on my drive, this thought kept resurfacing. I suppose it’s obvious that advancing in anything of value will require hard work.
If something really matters to us, I’m sure it will take a big commitment to make it happen.
This is where the pain of discipline comes into play.
What About Doing Nothing?
Many years ago, while living in Houston, I had a friend who was about 30-years-old, and I remember having a conversation with him about what he was doing now that he had graduated and had been employed for a good number of years.
He shared with me the following: “Jimmie! I want to do nothing! I don’t want any more degrees, no extra work. I’m married with kids, and that’s all that matters to me!”
I am not saying that being a husband and parent means doing nothing. My point is this person is basically saying he does not care about any professional development opportunities that may present themselves in the future.
The Other World
Different from my friend in Houston, I seem to operate in a totally different world.
You see … the people I know are constantly looking for development opportunities. They are working on an advanced degree, industry certifications, fitness programs, and so on.
A few days ago, I taught a free Agile Product Owner class to nearly 100 participants. I could sense the energy in the room, and I know many of them are prepared to overcome the pain of discipline to advance their careers.
It Starts With Us
As you read through this blog, I’m pretty sure you know where you stand on this continuum … whether you are prepared to embark on the pain of discipline or settle for the pain of regret.
The decision is personal.
The other important point is that success is a moving target. The goals we had 10 years ago are different from the ones that occupy our minds today.
Would you agree?
I don’t think I shared with you that a couple years ago I began a Master of Divinity (MDiv) program, and I have only a handful of classes left to complete the degree requirements.
This program has required a significant investment of time on my part, but it has been an awesome experience. I’ve enjoyed learning more about Scripture, pastoral leadership, and counseling.
The interesting part about my commitment to this program is I have not noticed the pain of discipline all that much.
So that’s it, my friends … Focus on where your passion lies, and the rest seems to take care of itself.
See you next week!
Closing Quotes
“Self-discipline begins with the mastery of your thoughts.” – Napoleon Hill
“Discipline is choosing between what you want now and what you want most.” – Abraham Lincoln
Homework Inquiry
During the next week, here’s your homework inquiry: What will you accomplish this week that requires discipline? What will you start doing?
I use this opportunity to share with you a unique story and a couple inspiring quotes. Oh ... as a professor at heart, you guessed it, I have a homework inquiry for you. This is a powerful question that might just trigger you to take action on something that really matters in your life. If you feel the Catalyst Newsletter brings benefit to you.