Imagine this: You’ve decided to finally start that exercise routine you’ve been putting off. You set the alarm for 6 a.m., determined to hit the gym and make it a habit. The next morning, the alarm blares. It’s still dark outside. Your bed is warm and cozy, and your body feels heavy.

You groan, turn off the alarm, and promise yourself you’ll start tomorrow instead.

Tomorrow comes, and it’s the same story.

Before long, a week has passed, and you’ve only managed to make it to the gym once.

You start thinking, “I just don’t have the discipline. What’s wrong with me?”

We’ve all been there, feeling disappointed in ourselves for not sticking to the plans we’ve set. It’s a vicious cycle — you set a goal, fail to follow through, and then beat yourself up about it.

The frustration builds, and soon enough, you feel like you’re lacking something fundamental: discipline.

But what if I told you that the concept of “discipline” might be the problem?

What if discipline, as we understand it, doesn’t even exist?

Let’s dive deeper into this idea and explore a new approach to reaching your health goals — both for your body and mind.

Step 1: Forgive Yourself and Let Go

First things first: let’s get one thing straight — no one is perfect.

We are often our harshest critics, which can lead to a downward spiral of self-blame. The more you beat yourself up, the worse you feel. And the worse you feel, the harder it is to find the energy or motivation to try again.

So, start by forgiving yourself.

Understand that missing a workout or eating an unhealthy meal does not make you a failure.

Take a few deep breaths, release the tension, and let it go. Forgiving yourself isn’t about letting yourself off the hook; it’s about removing the emotional barriers that keep you stuck.

Reflection Prompt: When was the last time you beat yourself up over a missed goal? How did it affect your motivation afterward? How might things have been different if you had simply forgiven yourself and moved on?

Step 2: Recognize That Discipline is an Illusion

Many people believe that achieving their health goals comes down to sheer willpower and discipline — forcing themselves to do things they don’t want to do.

But what is “discipline,” really?

It’s not a tangible skill or something you can grab hold of. It’s more like a vague idea we cling to.

When we say we lack discipline, we’re usually masking a deeper issue: a lack of motivation.

Think about it: discipline is often described as the ability to push yourself to do things against your will. But if there’s no will — no desire or motivation — how can you push?

Discipline without motivation is like trying to drive a car with no gas.

The real driving force isn’t discipline; it’s motivation.

And that’s something you can learn to harness.

Reflection Prompt: What are some health goals you’ve set in the past that you believed required discipline? How might those goals have been different if you focused on finding motivation instead?

Step 3: Focus on Your Motivation

So, if motivation is the key, how do we find it?

Start by asking yourself why you want to achieve your health goals.

Why do you want to eat healthier, exercise more, or get more sleep?

Dig deep. Your motivation needs to resonate with you on a personal level.

Write it down, make it specific, and make it strong.

Once you’ve pinpointed your motivation, think about how you can sustain it when things get tough.

Maybe it’s about feeling more energized to play with your kids, reducing anxiety, or simply feeling better in your own skin. Keep these motivations front and center. Remind yourself of them often.

Reflection Prompt: What is your deepest motivation for wanting to live a healthier life? Is it strong enough to keep you going when things get tough? How can you remind yourself of this motivation daily?

Step 4: Make It Easy

Another reason we struggle with sticking to healthy habits is that we often make them too hard.

When we think of a workout, we imagine a grueling hour-long session at the gym.

Or we think eating healthy means overhauling our entire diet. But starting small and making things easier can build momentum.

If exercise feels overwhelming, start with just 5 minutes. Yes, 5 minutes.

The goal is not to get in shape overnight but to create a habit.

Similarly, if eating healthy feels daunting, start by adding just one extra vegetable to your meals or drinking an extra glass of water each day. Make the habit as easy as possible, so it becomes almost impossible to say no.

Reflection Prompt: What healthy habits have you been avoiding because they seem too hard? How can you simplify them to make them more manageable and less intimidating?

Step 5: Find Enjoyment in the Process

Let’s be real: forcing yourself to do things you hate will never work in the long term.

If you despise running, why make yourself run every day?

Find an activity you enjoy, like dancing, hiking, or swimming. Enjoyment is a powerful motivator. When you look forward to doing something, it feels less like a chore and more like a choice.

The same goes for eating healthy. If you hate kale, don’t eat it.

Find healthy foods you enjoy and build your meals around them. Make the process enjoyable by adding little pleasures, like listening to a great podcast during a walk or treating yourself to a smoothie after a workout.

Reflection Prompt: What aspects of healthy living do you genuinely enjoy? How can you build more of these enjoyable moments into your daily routine?

Step 6: Repeat and Be Kind to Yourself

Even with the best intentions and strategies, setbacks are inevitable.

You might skip a workout or indulge in an extra slice of cake.

That’s okay. Instead of spiraling into self-doubt and negativity, recognize it as a bump in the road.

Dust yourself off, go back to Step 1, and start again. Progress is not about perfection; it’s about consistency.

Remember that building healthy habits is a journey. There will be ups and downs, but the key is to keep going. By focusing on motivation, making it easy, and finding enjoyment, you’ll find that your path becomes much more sustainable.

Reflection Prompt: The next time you slip up on your health goals, how can you approach it with kindness and a commitment to keep going?

Final Thought

Changing your mindset from “I need more discipline” to “How can I find more motivation and enjoyment?” can transform how you approach your health goals.

It takes the pressure off and makes the journey more rewarding.

Start small, be kind to yourself, and remember: the power to change comes not from forcing yourself but from inspiring yourself.

Until next time
RD BERT

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