In this article, I’m going to teach you how to become addicted to discipline.

But before I do, you should know that developing self-control and locking in on your goals is not a quick fix. It’s a constant process requiring continual adjustment. In fact, I’m still fine-tuning things, even after 8 years of experimenting with different habits and disciplines to accomplish my own goals.

But with that in mind, if you’re still willing to commit to that process, read on.

1. Work On Your Habits

“Habits are the compound interest of self-improvement.”

— James Clear 

Self-discipline is forged by identity, and identity reinforces self-discipline.

As a result, you need to cultivate a disciplined mentality. This is done through acting with self-control, self-denial, and self-restraint in your daily life. In 2017, I started reading every day. I quickly built a personal library soon after, with my books now totaling well over $3,000. Then, in 2019, I began journaling every day.

As of this writing, I have a dozen notebooks filled with journal entries. In 2020, I began training and taking cold showers daily. Then, in 2021, I started juicing vegetables, and on and on. This process helped me to:

• Build a tapestry of healthy habits
• Establish trust with myself by keeping my word
• Bolster my confidence to do difficult tasks
• Cultivate a positive personal identity and more

Over time, I slowly chained better, healthier, and more character-building habits together.

And through the years, I eventually became a disciplined individual as a result of this practice. Here’s the deal… You have to work on your habits before your habits can work on you. And you do that by slowly integrating healthy habits into your life over time.

So, pick a few easy habits to start practicing every day, and then practice them every day.

2. Track Your New Disciplines

“You are what you do repeatedly. Therefore, excellence is not a singular act but a habit.”

— Aristotle

They say that you can’t improve what you don’t measure.

And while there is truth to that adage, that’s not the reason I’m going to recommend you track your disciplines. Tony Robbins, the world’s greatest life coach, says that “Human beings will always act in alignment with who they view themselves to be,” and I agree.

The strongest motivational factor in the human psyche is our need to behave consistently with who we think we are.

With this in mind, the key component in hacking and, ultimately, changing your habits (for good), is identity. You have to shift your self-perception. And the best way to do that is through small changes in your daily actions, continually repeated over a long enough timeframe.

Little changes compound and turn into big results.

This is why I recommend you track your new disciplines. Get yourself a Habit Tracker and list all the new habits you want to adopt. As you adhere to each new habit on a daily basis, a psychological shift occurs that allows you to begin leaning into this new identity.

And this leads us to the final tip that will get you addicted to discipline.

3. Hold The Line

“You have to hold the line on the seemingly insignifcant little things—things that shouldn’t matter—but that do.”

— Jocko Willink

Imagine a mountain.

Strong, present, and always there. A mountain never contracts or shrinks. Even when elements such as rain, hail, sleet, snow, and powerful storms pummel its ridges, the mountain is never diminished. It remains. Unmoved. Unaffected.

A mountain’s presence is similar to how you need to be with your habits.

Never retreat or retract from the discomfort of self-discipline. In other words, you need to hold the line. You need to keep showing up every single day. This is how you become accustomed to your new behaviours and, as a result, integrate them fully into your lifestyle. Every day matters.

In fact, I’d argue that showing up daily with your new habits is the most important step to integrating them into your life.

Wrapping Up

Becoming addicted to discipline is the secret that will lock you in on the path to achieving your goals. The good news? You can adapt to almost habit in your life. For this reason, anybody can arm themselves with the self-discipline required to accomplish their goals. And the best part is that I can help.

I went from a pot-smoking, 3-time high school dropout to a self-improvement writer and public speaker. And I can help you make the same transformation, too. All you have to do is get a copy of my book, and you can start making progress toward your dreams and goals.

And remember: Stay Motivated And Disciplined.