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Motivation vs Self-Discipline

All, Navigating Life

by Tori Roalef
September 13, 2022

Have you ever established a goal and felt excited to start, but as the days go on, you lost the motivation to continue pursuing your goal? Perhaps life got in the way or you didn't have enough energy—even though it's something you still want to achieve. As a result, you dropped the pursuit of your goal, and it now remains as a dream or a far-off distant goal you may or may not achieve one day.

If you've experienced this, then let us propose an alternative strategy to achieving your goals: self-discipline.

The Idea of the Week

Motivation (a 7-minute read) is described as a driving force for behaviors, especially goal-oriented actions. Motivation can be extrinsic (an outside force that drives behavior, offering external rewards such as money, grades, or praise) or intrinsic (an internal force that drives behavior, offering some level of personal reward). It’s our “why” we engage in a particular behavior.

Understanding your motivation to do something is important because it can help you feel in control of your life, understand your values, and encourage you to take action. However, motivation fluctuates and sometimes we lose motivation to pursue our goals.

So, how can we pursue our goals when we lose our motivation?

We develop self-discipline.

Whereas motivation is fleeting and fluctuating, self-discipline (a 7-minute read; this article refers to improving “self-control”) is long-lasting and more consistent. It is the collection of your habits that you cultivate. Self-discipline will carry you through the process of achieving your goals when motivation is low.

Practice of the Week

Motivation can be difficult to hold onto particularly for individuals with ADHD. In this 7-minute video, you’ll learn about the “motivation bridge” and ways “to fill in the planks” where there are gaps in your motivation bridge.

In this 12-minute video, you’ll learn step-by-step How to Build Self-Discipline using the Mindset Method, first, by reframing discipline as an act of self-love, then by building a system to start and sustain habits, and ending with building up your willpower by using “discomfort training.”

Remember that self-discipline is like a muscle: it’ll strengthen the more you practice!