A perfectly disciplined "will"

"Talent without discipline is like an octopus on roller skates. There’s plenty of movement, but you never know if it’s going to be forward, backwards, or sideways" - H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

Discipline touches every aspect of our lives and for most can be the difference between great success, great failure or middle of the road mediocre. Considering we live in a society where mediocre is encouraged this may sit well with some, however there are those who strive for that little bit more: A better job, greater understanding (of self and other things), more depth in relationships, greater skills and knowledge and so on. Discipline is one way to get on-track towards these things. What is discipline when it comes to self though? I mean it's not marching around on the parade ground in straight lines like military discipline is it? No, not at all. I define it as mental toughness, although that phrase encompasses a plethora of other elements also.

Self denial and sacrifice are certainly elements of mental toughness. Think about the sports person trying to qualify for a big event, the olympics maybe. They get up early, train then eat an appropriate breakfast. They hit the gym and then eat again, maybe train a little in the afternoon and then possibly work on the technical side of their sport, the play book or tactics for instance. Do they go out and party all night, get hammered on vodka and cocaine? Maybe, but, I think, probably not. Through sacrifice and denial they strive for the success they have set as a goal and through applying discipline they place themselves in a position to achieve their endgame.

Self denial and sacrifice by themselves are not enough though of course. Combine these things with what an old football coach calls a "perfectly disciplined will that refuses to give in" and things can start to happen. Sure there's many other elements as well but without discipline none of them get deployed with enough effort to make a difference. The old football coach I referred to earlier calls that disciplined-will "character in action" and indeed it is because it takes character, personal character, to put these concepts into play. Some will, some won't and each will achieve the result commensurate to what they choose to do, their effort, discipline and self-sacrifice.

That is all.

(Image taken by me at the Tower of London. This guy is ninja-level disciplined.)