The long way

Is the short way

If you choose the path of personal discipline

Continuous improvement - some people get it - many don't

I carefully discussed something with my son this week
He had absolutely no protest on this topic in any way
We talked about having any goal, and fulfilling it
Then turning around and making another goal

There are at least two people in my life who do not align with this process
Both of them feel that continuous goals are some kind of life trap
I remember thinking that way too - in my sales career
It aggravated me to be handed my goals by others

Yet, making subsequent goals is a natural, progressive thing
Life is better with goals and those goals are expressed as purpose
Life is best when personal actions are imbued with a sense of purpose
Life without a sense of purpose is a very empty and even meaningless life

Don't get me wrong - I enjoy the existential nature of just being lovely me - it gets boring
It's not that just being me is boring - it's that manifesting improvements is so worthwhile

A lot of my friends are having mid-life crises right now and at this age "the 50s"
A lot of my female friends are calling out about the necessity of passion
I find the passion talk to be very tiresome, yet I am passionate
My response is always the same - passion is not a free pass

The human brain and the human heart are connected
The brain and the heart are meant to work together
Brain with no heart - What is the point?
Heart with no brain - Is dumb as hell

When I hear these people talking about passion what I hear is different
I hear people bouncing off the walls without having a plan
They are saying they get to be impulsive and impetuous
They are saying they can swing from the rafters

As a rule I don't disagree with any of those urges
Except there is a bigger consideration than that

Freedom of speech is not freedom from consequences
Let that come back to the discipline in selecting words

Discipline is having all options open
Then choosing something intentionally

Multiple onlooking people at my gym now somehow think I was a lifelong swimmer
Really I'm just a bilateral breathing person who improved underwater flip turns
Then I learned how to do the activity properly without hurting my shoulders
Then I rehabilitated all of the previous injuries that were holding me back

Now, discipline to me means going for a swim nearly every morning
There are times I don't feel like doing that
There are times I cut my workout in half
There are times I don't swim at all

Let's back up for a moment
Let's talk about taking a shower
There are days I don't want to do that either
In the end I definitely always prefer being clean

Personal hygiene is a lot like personal fitness
You don't exactly have to do it every day
But then, why would you skip it?
Better is - do it quick - be done

In the gym yesterday I met a guy who is more flexible than I would have thought possible
I sat down next to him and started yapping in his ear - I was going a mile a minute
He was gracious, admitting he likes to sit on the mat for an hour anyway
It's not like he was going anywhere and he didn't mind my questions

At the end he told me his name and told me to say hello any time I see him
That was harmony - just two dudes stretching on the mat at the gym
There wasn't anything troublesome or tiresome about it at all
Just a clean mutual respect and appreciation
Why can't the workout be like that?

I’ll take flip turns, bilateral breathing, and a swim schedule over Botox any day
I’ll make that choice with all of my choices - Every Day of the Week
Those choices aren't hard for me because I don't expect comfort
Comfort is what I get later in the other parts of my life

I never knew the meaning of determination
Until I started swimming laps in the pool at my gym
There have been so many barriers to accomplishing my goal
Facing down and defeating those obstacles has changed me as a man

In my life I have received many accolades and tons of praise for accomplishment
I have impressed others so much I became overly attached the process
I became what in psychology is referred to as a, "Pleaser"
It became irrationally important for me to impress others

Unwinding pleaser mentality is not an easy thing
I'm certainly not suggesting that swim workouts
Are what would unwind pleasing for others
Workouts are a very personal thing

I do however think it is important that people decouple themselves
With the obsessive need and necessity of impressing others
Living in the approval of others is just no way to live
Try it both ways and I'm sure you'll agree with me
Even when we please people
They don't stay pleased
Sorry to break it to you

There is certainly nothing wrong with staying in a state of healthy agreement
In fact my greatest wish and joy for all people is to live in a state of harmony
Harmony however is not the process of pleasing others
Harmony is definitely not the art of pleasing others

Harmony is both of us saying "You Be You"
And being able to live like that ongoing
Discipline comes from many places
It's best if it comes from within

If you make it to your workout or not
My hope for you is that you make that a personal decision
If you are not making it to your workout because you are pleasing others
That would likely indicate you will not be successful with either them or yourself

Lesson Summary

Continuous improvement through personal discipline is key to a fulfilling life. Set goals, accomplish them, and then create new ones to continue progressing. It is important to understand that goals serve as purpose in life, making actions meaningful and fulfilling. While passion is important, it should be accompanied by a plan for effective results. Discipline involves intentional decision-making and having all options open before making choices.

• Regularly setting and achieving goals leads to a purposeful life.
• Passion must be accompanied by a plan for effectiveness.
• Discipline requires intentional decision-making and consideration of all options.

Personal discipline extends to various aspects of life, including fitness and hygiene. Consistent efforts in these areas contribute to overall well-being and self-improvement. It's essential to detach from the need for external approval and focus on personal growth and satisfaction.

• Consistent exercise and hygiene practices contribute to overall well-being.
• Detaching from the need for external approval fosters personal growth and satisfaction.

Harmony in interactions stems from mutual respect and appreciation, rather than seeking to please others. Engaging in personal disciplines, such as workout routines, should be self-driven and not influenced by external pressures. Ultimately, true success comes from making decisions based on personal goals and values rather than seeking approval from others.

• Harmony in interactions is established through mutual respect and appreciation.
• Personal disciplines, like workout routines, should be self-driven and not for pleasing others.
• Success is achieved by making decisions based on personal values rather than seeking external approval.