Word of the Day: Discipline.

Discipline, as defined by Cambridge Dictionary, is the ability to control yourself or other people, even in difficult situations.

One thing that I have had to teach myself throughout the past 5 years of my life is the importance of discipline.

At the beginning of my senior year of high school, I decided I wanted to start taking care of my body and health by going to the gym. Before my senior year, I would go to the gym every now and then but never went consistently. It was always something that I found to be more of a chore than fun, so I never really made it a point to go.

Senior year, my mindset started to shift about a lot of things in my life and I decided that I wanted to start taking care of myself, both physically and mentally, by going to the gym. I started going to the gym consistently and realized that I absolutely loved it. I loved the way I was able to show up for myself every day and move my body, not because somebody else told me to, but because I wanted to.

As I continued going to the gym, I realized that taking care of my body wasn’t just about movement, but about fueling it properly too. I began eating very clean and focused on nourishing my body with nutritious foods. Like going to the gym, I loved eating healthy because it helped me feel good and kept me in a good mental health space.

Maintaining consistency with my workouts and eating healthy has become a key part of my everyday routine the past 5 years of my life. Being able to go to the gym and fuel my body is something that truly brings me joy and makes me happy, so that is why it is a part of my routine.

But here’s the thing: despite my love for the gym and healthy eating, I’ve had to learn that motivation doesn’t show up every day. Some mornings, the last thing I want to do is workout. This is where discipline comes in. Discipline is what helps me show up, even when the motivation fades. While motivation can be temporary, discipline is the steady force that keeps me on track toward my goals.

Now, all of that to say, yes, there are 100% days that I don’t want to go to the gym or move my body and I don’t end up going. It’s important to acknowledge that you don’t have to work out every single day or eat only healthy foods for every meal. What matters is teaching yourself discipline- the ability to show up for yourself, even on the days you don’t feel like it. ?

For me, the gym, staying active, and eating healthy are more than just habits- they are things I genuinely enjoy. But one of the most valuable lessons that I’ve learned along the way is that discipline is much greater than motivation. Motivation can come and go, but learning how to be disciplined is what keeps you going, even on the tough days. Discipline has been the key to my personal health and well-being, especially when motivation isn’t there to guide me.