Discipline Equals Freedom

Yesterday my son Matt graduated from college. He earned his bachelor's degree at the University of Colorado - UCCS, Magna cum laude. My heart is soaring so proud. 

Okay, let's go back a bit. He's my first-born kid, and he gets all of my mistakes as a parent. He gets all of my attention—for two years until his twin sisters are born.

At 16, Matt told me he wanted to join the Marines. That is a big sentence for us parents when they hear those words from their kids. I supported him. I was actually terrified. But we parents don't say that—well, we try not to. 

This big bus took my kid away to boot camp. I stood there with his sisters and we all cried. Watching that bus take my 18 year old kid away.

And four years later he is finished.

A couple months later he goes to college in Colorado. 16 hours from his hometown. Does not know a soul except for one friend from his past who is settled there with his wife and kids. It is the middle of 2020 and the world has shut down. All classes are online.

Would I have done that at 22? Join the military and then later move in a pandemic to a state far away from family without knowing anyone except one person... and all online classes? Nope. No way.

Four years later, he graduated college. He has a lot of friends and one very special girl. He was surrounded by his blended family of parents and step-parents, a sister, a cousin, and his girl. He is loved, and I am proud of this kid.

As parents, we find ourselves comparing. Yeah, that ugly word called compare. But we do. We think about our past, our accomplishments, and our failures. I really don't like the word failure, so let's change it to "regrets," the things we wanted to do but didn't.

How does anyone accomplish anything?

DISCIPLINE.

How do you have enough discipline to search for your purpose, even if it means to leave your home and see the world? Even during a pandemic.

I am reading Jocko Willink's book Discipline Equals Freedom, and I want to list here ten things that caught my attention in his words. You might like it, too. 

And a reminder, today....look for your G's. Be Grateful for it all. Grace to remember you are human. And look for the Glimmers.

DISCIPLINE

EQUALS

FREEDOM

by Jocko Willink

If you want to take the easy road, it won't take you to where you want to be: Stronger. Smarter. Faster. Healthier. Better. FREE.

Discipline: The root of all good qualities. The driver of daily execution. The core

principle that overcomes laziness and lethargy and excuses. Discipline defeats the

infinite excuses that say: Not today, not now, I need a rest, I will do it tomorrow.

What drives you to work, train, plan, and prepare?

What will you do to make every day-every minute-every second count?

Self-disciplined come from the SELF. YOU. It comes when you make a decision to be

disciplined. When you make a decision to be better.

Where does discipline come from? This is a simple answer. Discipline comes from

within. Discipline is an external force.

So make the decision. Make the commitment. Become the discipline-embrace its

cold and relentless power. And it will make you better and stronger and smarter

and faster and healthier than anything else. And most important. It will make you

FREE.

People want to know how to stop laziness. They want to know how to stop

procrastination. They have an idea in their head..maybe even a vision. But the don't

know where to start.

You have to do it now. So stop thinking about it. Stop dreaming about it. Stop

researching every aspect of it and reading all about it and debating the pros and cons

of it...Start doing it. Take that first step and Make It Happen. GET AFTER IT. HERE and

NOW.

Discipline your body. Free your mind. Get up early, and go. Get after it and you will

become the person you want to be. And you become that person through: One. Small

Decision. At. A. Time.