Hi friends,
Last Monday, I read a book: The ONE Thing. It was so good I completed it in a day. (Though I also read it last year). The book introduced some widely-accepted lies like "Living a disciplined life as the key to success".
The good news is that you already have all the discipline you'll ever need. You're just not managing and using it properly.
What we actually need is just enough discipline to establish a habit we want. It's the habit (which isn't about your willpower anymore), that makes you successful. So this means you are using selected discipline to build a habit.
Michael Phelps that has won 23 Olympic gold medals (28 in total) in swimming is the reference point for using selected discipline. Since he was 14 till the Beijing Olympics, he trained seven days a week, 365 days a year. He spent up to 6 hours in the water every day. That’s beyond discipline. Although his Kindergarten teacher said he couldn't focus because of ADHD, he developed a habit that has made him globally acknowledged.
Research done by the University College of London in 2009 suggests that it takes an average of 66 days to form a new habit. Ignore the 21 days that self-help experts preach. (Another lie!!!). Find the right habit and channel your discipline to develop it. Install habits one at a time.
For example, if I want to develop my health. I need to develop powerful habits in the 3 core areas of health: Sleep, Diet, and Exercise. Firstly, I would develop the habit of sleeping and waking at the same time every day. Secondly, I'll develop the habit of eating MyPlate recommendations at least twice daily. Finally, I would develop the habit of having 1-hour gym sessions, three times every week.
Don't aspire to be a disciplined person, aim to be a person of powerful habits.
Have a great weekend.
Zubby
🤖 AI’s Summary:
I asked ChatGPT to summarize this newsletter:
Success is not about having discipline, but about building powerful habits. Forming a new habit takes an average of 66 days. Focus on developing habits in specific areas, such as health, by focusing on sleep, diet, and exercise. Make a plan and start today!
💬 Quote of the week:
“It’s one of the most prevalent myths of our culture: self-discipline”
Leo Babauta
🔊 Growth Spread:
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Until next week, take care!
Zubby.