Consistency, Discipline, Success

Nah, I just didn’t quit. That’s the only distinguishing quality - Nipsey Hustle

I got into this dorky debate with my brother, does discipline create consistency or does consistency create discipline.

I’m of the mind that to become disciplined at something you need to first get consistent, while he argued to be consistent required discipline.

Our AI overloads when asked think -

The relationship between discipline and consistency is often viewed as interdependent. Discipline can create consistency by instilling the self-control and structure needed to perform actions regularly. Conversely, consistency can foster discipline by building habits and routines that reinforce self-discipline over time. Therefore, both concepts can be seen as mutually reinforcing, each contributing to the development of the other.

Which I guess is the most fence sitting answer one could come up with. Seeing as how AI isn’t ready to take a side though, let’s leave that alone for a minute.

One of the more transformative things I’ve ever read was Discipline Equals Freedom by Jacko Willink. Not so much because the idea was foreign but because it articulated an aspect so codified in Sikhi better than I ever could.

That any kind of freedom or gain whether it be spiritual liberation, health, or success of any kind requires you to be consistent and disciplined, or disciplined and consistent.

You want to be a better writer, write consistently. Better YouTuber, make videos consistently. Bette golfer - well the entire game is built around how consistently good you can be.

Consistently practicing and refining your craft; incremental gains to sharpen and hone it.

But consistency alone isn’t easy either, and honestly one of the things I’ve always struggled with.

For me particularly I’ve always been moved by momentum. Once I get in a groove it’s easy for me to stick with it and once I’m in a routine with things I’m flying.

But I’ve always struggled with getting back, or restarting that engine if it ever bucks. Which I guess therein lies the the original answer.

After all it’s discipline or the choice to adopt a discipline, which is what gets you started and moving again. So maybe my dorky ass brother was right after all.

That initial rev, or multiple revs of the engine that get it flowing and get things consistent, isn’t that itself discipline? Isn’t that the maradya we fall back on that keeps us moving.

For me these past few months that discipline has been to try and sleep early, practice golfing twice a week. Produce a video at least once and now to write at least weekly. Ya, I’ve messed up here and there but I guess the goal now is to get back at it. To remain disciplined, or become disciplined with my practice again and once again find my voice.