Discipline is the thing!

DAY 1 Poolwork for Alexa's Triathlon Training: This is probably a sight that you all would have liked to seen- I am NOT a swimmer. I went to go to watch some triathletes at my local pool and they were making it look so easy. So I, like an idiot, asked if I could join in one of their lanes and complete the last set with them to get experience...Let's just say that they blew past me about three times and the waves that they created from their power and speed almost drowned me because it got in my mouth when I came up for air.


Afterwards, one of the girls was nice enough to tell me what I was doing wrong. She said that I really need to work on technique and form- two things that are so simple but crucial to executing the actual swim. Form for swimming is so precise- every finger, arm, and leg movement must be concise, strong, and straight. It is a lot harder than it looks to maintain good form and technique for an extended period of time. If I want to get good at swimming, I have to master these small things first.

 Mr. Miagi from Karate kid states that "Discipline is the thing"  We all hear about discipline but do we really understand what it means or the power that it has?

Steve Pavilina compares self discipline to a muscle, “The more you train it, the stronger you become. The less you train it, the weaker you become. Just as everyone has different muscular strength, we all possess different levels of self-discipline. Everyone has some... but not everyone has developed their discipline to the same degree.”






I obviously do not have the same amount of discipline as the triathletes I went to watch but I will get there someday. One day I will not even have to think about my strokes but right now I do and I have to know that being a novice is my state of being right now. This is something that I have to be okay with and make sure not compare myself to the experts...yet. Regardless of my emotional state whether it be wanting more or frustration because I am not where I want to be- self discipline is what will keep my emotions out of what I have to do and focus.

Picture yourself saying to your body, “Run up this 800 m hill eight times as hard as you can,” or "Complete this project by next week" Without self-discipline that intention will not manifest. But with sufficient self-discipline, it’s a done deal. The pinnacle of self-discipline is when you reach the point of making a conscious decision of doing something- once this decision is made it is guaranteed you’ll follow through on it...not allowing ANYTHING to stop you.

Self-discipline is and will be your key weapon to accomplishing anything you want in life; if you learn how to leverage it to your advantage. Self discipline can help you accomplish several things like getting a PR, completing a hard workout, improving technique, getting a job, starting a company- or it can wipe out internal problems that no one else but you can fix like: procrastination, disorders, and ignorance. 


So let's get out there and apply self-discipline to shift our present state of being to something even greater.

 

L.O.V.E

"Love speaks out for justice and protests when harm is being done. Love points out the consequences of hurting oneself or others.

Love allows room for anger, grief, or pain to be expressed and released. But love does not threaten to withhold itself if it doesn't get what it wants.

Love does not talk directly or indirectly-it is open and simple.

Love does not say, "If you want to be loved you must be nice, or do what I want, or never love anyone else, or promise you'll never leave me."

Love cares what becomes of you because love knows that we are all interconnected. Love is inherently compassionate and empathic.

Love knows that the "other" is also oneself. This is the true nature of love and love itself can not be manipulated or restrained.

Love honors the sovereignty of each soul.

Love is its own law."

Today is my grandparent's 53rd anniversary- looking at them makes me truly believe in love because it has lasted for more than half a century. Through good times and bad- through mistakes and lessons learned, love sustained itself because they had no choice. Love had set its claws in them and as the saying says above, it is its own law, nothing can stop it or control it.

In the same way that my grandparents' love for each other sustained, I think that love for our sport, dreams, jobs, and our own individual purposes can be sustained as well.  However, love is not easy- it has its ups and downs but it always provides satisfaction and happiness in the end. This is why it is important to realize WHY and if YOU REALLY love what you do because if you truly love it you can get through the highs and the lows of the present and past and pursue a bright future.

It seems as though you might not love running anymore if you get injured- it might feel like you don't love your job because you are new and you don't know how to do everything anymore or it even might feel like you don't love the people around you because they are making bad choices or are acting unjust. But deep down you know how much you love your sport, how much you love to apply yourself, and how much you love being interconnected with those around you- Once you are in love you have no choice but to fight through the challenges that the external environment might present.

LOVE what you do- if you don't its not worth it. Find something that you truly love and never stop- Press forward like Cupid on Fire and you will always find grace, happiness, peace, and companionship in the end.