Recently I was asked “what do you struggle with the most, motivation or discipline?” My first thought was that’s kind of a dumb question. This was followed by the thought that you need motivation to be disciplined, and discipline to be motivated. Then I realized the question wasn’t dumb, my initial thoughts were. This is because, although these two at times seem to mirror each other (in reality or just in your mind) they are profoundly different in practice.

First let’s get the definitions out of the way.

Motivation:
Common dictionary view (e.g., Merriam-Webster): The act or process of giving someone a reason to act, or the condition of being eager to act or work. It also refers to a force, stimulus, or influence (drive/incentive) that causes someone to act.

Psychological view (e.g., APA Dictionary): An impetus that gives purpose or direction to behavior, operating consciously or unconsciously. It can stem from physiological needs (hunger, thirst), personal goals, social factors, or external rewards/punishments.

Motivation is the spark or desire that gets you excited to start or pursue something. Though it can fluctuate (e.g., feeling inspired one day but not the next) and includes intrinsic (purpose) and extrinsic (stimulus/incentive) types.

Discipline:
Common dictionary view (e.g., Merriam-Webster, Cambridge): Training that develops self-control, obedience to rules, or orderly conduct; the ability to control yourself or behave in a controlled manner.

Psychological view (e.g., APA Dictionary on self-discipline): Control of impulses and desires, forgoing immediate gratification in favor of long-term goals; resolute adherence to a regimen or course of action.

Discipline is more about habit, structure, and willpower than emotion. It means doing what needs to be done regardless of how you feel (e.g., getting up early to exercise even when tired). It often builds through practice and is seen as a skill that can be developed over time.

What the point?

Before I answered, I decided to break it down a bit further. Mainly, I took a second to reflect on myself and my habits/routines. …along with asking myself questions like: 'Do I always want to get up for work? Am I always excited to train? Do I always want to eat, let alone prep my food?' And as you can imagine, I answered no to all of those questions. Because regardless of how many David Goggins or Rocky speeches you listen to, they aren’t going to hold up day after day…they aren’t going to hold up day after day. Or you’ll have that one day, or week, when nothing on the schedule lines up. Motivation for all of us is a fleeting moment.
Don’t get me wrong, it’s great for beginning a new habit. It’s powerful at sparking those changes in your life… but the reality is that it depreciates fast.

So my answer to him was: I struggle more with motivation than I do discipline.

That’s only because I’ve built systems and needs around making the better choices for myself… at least the majority of the time.
Discipline is the tool that helps you build and achieve goals.

If you struggle with discipline… leverage your motivation to change your environment.
Use the spark to implement change. Not just performing the desired change or habit. Yes, go to the gym or eat your veggies when you’re motivated. But you can utilize that motivation to make the real changes that can benefit you in actually maintaining the habit.

For example, if you struggle with eating better, take this time to clean out the pantry and fridge, go buy food for prep and healthier options for the “weak moments.” Prep the dang food. Make it easy to grab. Then alter your schedule to allow for you to prep x amount of times a week or month. Let someone know what the new habit is and have them hold you accountable for a bit.

This isn’t an easy or quick fix. Just one way you can push yourself in the right direction.

And for those of you who are aligned with me and have no issue with discipline should still follow the same advice. Utilize the spark to begin the routine… then let your discipline take the reins.

The biggest takeaway is changing how you manipulate motivation to be useful and altering your environment to decrease friction for healthy habits and routines.

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