Vetnews | November 2024 42 « BACK TO CONTENTS Influential Life Coaching DO YOU WANT SELFDISCIPLINE OR MOTIVATION? Dr Mats Abatzidis B.Sc. B.V.Sc. New Insights Certified VIP Life Coach mats.abatzidis@yahoo.co.za Founder of Influential Life Coaching http://www.matsaba.wix.com/drmatscoach Author of the published book “Life outside your comfort zone. Better and beyond all expectations”. http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=searchalias%3Ddigital-text&field-keywords=Abatzidis http://www.life-coach-directory.co.za/mats-abatzidis Vet's Health I Life Coaching I hope this article finds you and your families well and safe!!! Last month we discussed all about being taken for granted in your various roles in your life, as well as how to avoid it. This month I want to look at another, all too common occurrence in our everyday life, and that is misinterpreting motivation and self-discipline. Think about your current situation and try deciding right now which one of these two attributes you would like to have more. Self-discipline or motivation? The difference: self-discipline is an internal skill defining ‘what’ you do (the fuel that keeps the fire burning), helping one persist (maintain consistency and focus on goals) despite obstacles. Self-discipline is the ability to commit and honour commitments you have made long-term. That’s because someone with incredible self-discipline can control his actions, resist distractions, and stay focused on his goals, even when it’s ridiculously tough. Motivation is the ‘why’ behind an action, the fuel igniting action (gets things started; think of a car’s ignition creating the spark needed to start the engine and drive the pistons), and comes from internal and external forces. We need both and mastering both will help us develop the mental fortitude needed to succeed in life and also carry these qualities into other aspects of our life, ultimately becoming a more resilient and resourceful individual (pushes our performance higher). Choosing between self-discipline and motivation isn’t productive, as both are vital. Self-discipline ensures regular practice and habit formation, whereas motivation encourages perseverance in the face of obstacles and setbacks. That means that while neither is inherently better, as a pair, they are vastly superior to being on their own and are mostly co-dependent. Can you maintain focus when you’re freezing, but still have to go to the gym? How do we work on that when I cannot get myself to the gym? Mental toughness can be developed over time. Just as you develop calluses on your hands for physical toughness, you can develop“calluses” in your brain for mental toughness. This would require continuously working on your self-discipline and motivation, just like a workout in the gym would require multiple repetitions of the same action or exercise. Motivation can be extrinsic or intrinsic. Extrinsic motivation can be built with external rewards, such as money or awards. Intrinsic motivation relates to the inner self, such as personal satisfaction, personal growth, etc. If we consider personal fitness goals, motivated people have a desire to train, get up easier on cold mornings to train, and push for that extra rep when they are tired. 4 ways to develop more self-discipline and motivation: 1. Set Goals: If you are failing to plan, you are also planning to fail. True story! Set clear, achievable goals that are always stretching your abilities to a bit more than what you can handle now. Setting your goals and milestones in between is establishing a route map to success. Winning kicks in when you commit to improving, no matter what. That’s because setting goals establishes clear boundaries and keeps you motivated as you work your way closer to your goal, where you can then look around and hype yourself up enough to dig deep to reach what seems undoable today. 2. Creating a routine that works for you: consistency is what makes all the difference. A routine should be properly mapped out and specific to your goals. You need a functional route map that makes sense and is aligned with your goals. Once the plan is ready, lock it in with all the physical and mental commitment you can master every day, and stick to it. Just follow your plan, one step at a time. 3. Practice mindfulness and visualization: these are incredibly broad topics, but they encompass things you’ve surely heard of or tried, such as meditation, deep breathing, and mental imagery. You’ll find after doing this for a period, your ability to roll with the punches and stay focused under pressure sharpened tremendously. Visualize routinely what the end goal looks like. For example: if it is a dream car you are after, go to the showroom and sit in it, or take it for a test drive. This is particularly helpful when you’re low on motivation. Regardless of the time and place of the setback, with a sharper mind, you’ll be ready to seize it with confidence, knowing you’ve put in the time and effort to conquer your mind and body. 4. Accountability: the bigger the success the more likely that you will not be able to do it alone. Life is a team sport. Hang with people who have similar goals and aspirations. Teaming up creates an unstoppable force, where you push each other to conquer challenges and rise above the rest. Together, you’ll hold each other accountable and stay on track, making sure no one’s left behind when the going gets tough, and encouraging one another along the way. In moments of hardship, you will get out of your head and focus your energies on helping others around you. An extremely powerful tool. Next month, we will continue looking at more ideas for improving our quality of life and overall performance both at work and at home. v Self-discipline + motivation = mental toughness
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