PARENTING

Discipline is Freedom: A Simple Biking Lesson Reminder

⏱ Estimated Read Time: 3 minutes

Me and my kid have gotten back into biking this year. It’s been great having him ride alongside me as I get my walks and runs in. There’s this one particular stretch we always encounter, a noticeable uphill climb. Every time we approach it, my son instinctively slows down, eyeing the challenge ahead. More often than not, halfway up, he has to hop off his bike, having lost all his momentum. “This is really hard!” he’ll exclaim.

I tell him, “Listen, what you’ve got to do is, when the ground is flat, you need to go as fast as you can. That momentum will carry you up the hill.” He didn’t quite grasp it. “I don’t understand what you’re trying to say,” he’d respond. I’d try again: “Go fast when it’s flat! Then, when it gets harder, you’ll have that built-up momentum to help carry you through.” Still, it didn’t quite register. I kept trying to think of simpler ways to explain it, words that might click for him.

Then, my mind started connecting the dots to our own lives, specifically to discipline. One of my favorite books is “Discipline is Freedom” by Jocko Willink. The entire premise of the book revolves around the idea that having discipline—that steady, consistent effort—is what keeps you going even when things get tough. When life gets challenging, muddy, or just plain difficult, if you’ve built that discipline when the path was easy and clear, you can, proverbially, climb those hills a lot easier. It won’t be effortless, but you’ll have the discipline and momentum to carry you through.

This analogy, this whole concept, just popped into my head at that moment, triggered by my son’s struggle. Discipline. I’m currently in a peculiar place where I’m trying to rebuild my own discipline. I lost it for a bit, and now I’m actively working to get it back, trying to be regular with my daily routines, disciplined with my exercise, my fitness, and just taking care of myself.

Seeing my kid get stuck on that hill was like looking in a mirror. I saw myself stopping before the metaphorical hills in my own life, struggling to climb rather than cruising up with established momentum. It was a clear reflection: “How can I explain this to my kid when I’m essentially explaining it to myself? This is why you need your discipline. This is why you need that routine set. Because when things inevitably get hard, you’ll have a way to coast or help carry you up.”

It’s strange how little everyday moments can trigger such profound connections and reminders in life. For me, that day on the bike was a powerful reminder: this is why you have to stay disciplined, why you have to stay consistent. (And, of course, I helped him up the hill eventually, saying, “Yeah, we’ll get there!”)

Perhaps it’s a reminder for you all too. Discipline is freedom. Find your discipline, find your rhythm, find your momentum, and get it going. Because when the path is flat, that’s precisely the time you need to go full speed, full force. When it goes uphill, it’s going to be a lot harder. But at least you’ll have that momentum to help carry you up.

Anyway, that’s some life advice by Shinda Singh. Until the next one, peace.

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updated_at 27-08-2025
Ai Disclosure: The above posts were transcribed using AI tools. Some language may not have been accurately transcribed.
Ai Header Image Prompt: A high-quality, highly detailed, expressive image depicting a Sikh man (father) in a turban, cycling alongside his young Sikh son, who wears a patka, on a bicycle path. They are transitioning from a smooth, flat stretch to the start of a noticeable uphill climb. The father looks back towards his son with a warm, reflective expression, while the son looks forward with a determined yet slightly hesitant gaze towards the incline. The art style is a blend of natural, soft realism and abstract digital art elements. Dynamic, flowing lines of light and motion subtly trail from the father's bike on the flat path, symbolizing built-up momentum. The uphill section of the path has a slightly more textured, almost subtly fractured or pixelated appearance, contrasting with the smooth flat ground, representing challenge and effort. The background features soft, diffused lighting and ethereal, abstract shapes or gradients that evoke a sense of contemplation and personal journey. The overall composition should convey both struggle and the potential for transcendence. Ensure accurate anatomy, especially for hands and limbs, and an organic, non-AI generated feel. Avoid any text.