Can Discipline Be Freeing?
Three ways to rethink discipline.
I often catch myself bargaining in the mornings. I wake up and almost instinctively think “Do I have to run this morning? Can it wait until this afternoon instead? But what about my meal times…maybe I could just run easy”. I’ve been running for over 15 years and it still happens most days. I hear these negotiations all the time with my coaching clients too.
However, this bargaining only serves to create frustration and indecision, and leads to compromise - it’d be difficult to say it’s freeing. The skill I have to continuously work on and develop is discipline. Discipline, I’ve learned, means not giving attention to those bargaining thoughts and letting them go. It means I’m freed from hesitation and remain respectful to the decisions I know best serve me.
At Active Edge, we’re intentionally steering away from quick fixes and training hacks. While it’s easy to get caught up in the pursuit of shortcuts, the truth is that the real results aren’t in the workouts themselves—it’s in everything else. Individual adaptation, lifestyle integration, support networks, and a thoughtful mental approach are what lead to lasting success. The real “hack” is committing to health and longevity, not a fleeting shortcut. To commit to anything takes discipline.
When athletes fully commit to a long-term approach, they start to see what’s possible. But after a few training cycles and key performances, it’s normal for motivation to dip and discipline to feel harder. That’s where we need to shift our thinking—not to see discipline as something that constrains us, but as a means to move forward with clarity and purpose.
Discipline as Freedom
I’m sure we’ve all seen posts by people that push the ‘5am club’ and ‘No Cheat Days’ type approach. These influencers make it seem like we have to have a strict and perfect approach to being disciplined or else we may as well not bother. It makes it seem that discipline is a restriction - a lack of flexibility or variety, and probably a little boring. It’s not the most attractive compliment…”Ooo, come meet my new boyfriend Ronny, he’s so disciplined”.
How I reframe discipline is that it is actually about freeing yourself from the uncertainty that comes with indecision. It’s not about forcing yourself through rigid routines, but about creating the conditions for your best work, even when motivation is low. In this way, discipline brings structure to the chaos of everyday life.
When we embrace discipline, we are setting boundaries that allow us to focus on what truly matters. Rather than waiting for the perfect moment or external motivation, discipline enables us to move in the direction we’ve chosen. It doesn’t have to mean you can’t binge or sleep in - instead it gives us the clarity to act, even when the path ahead isn’t easy. Maybe it is an attractive compliment, after all.
Discipline as Self-Respect
The way I like to coach, I do seem to find myself saying to clients “Be kind to yourself”, quite often. What I mean by this is that it is very easy to be pulled here and there by life, but by not dedicating yourself the time and energy to pursue your wants and needs, you begin to neglect your own wellbeing at the expense of others. Discipline is a form of self-respect.
True discipline doesn’t come from a place of judgment or harshness—it comes from a quiet, strong commitment to yourself. It’s about respecting your own values and goals, and honoring them through consistent, intentional action. Staying on track, even when it’s difficult, is a way of showing loyalty to the commitments you’ve made to yourself, knowing that the payoff will come over time. Whilst being kind might look like putting your feet up and choosing comfort, discipline helps you recognise that movement helps you feel better in the long run. Having self-respect through discipline, therefore, creates a stable platform for your life to be enjoyable.
Discipline as Progress
Finally, one helpful reframing of discipline is that it isn’t about pushing yourself to extremes or striving for perfection—it’s about creating a steady rhythm that allows you to keep moving forward. By showing up regularly, even in small ways, you create momentum that sustains progress over time.
Rather than seeing discipline as an obligation, it can be viewed as an anchor that provides stability and clarity. It’s not about forcing yourself through relentless effort, but about trusting that each step, no matter how small, contributes to your growth. When motivation fluctuates, discipline is what keeps you grounded and moving in the right direction—helping you stay connected to your goals without feeling overwhelmed.
So, the next time you feel your motivation flagging, remember: discipline is about more than achieving goals—it’s about creating a solid foundation that supports your ongoing growth, in a way that respects you, gives you freedom and encourages lasting joy.
Ron
Call for Comments
Based on this newsletter, here are a couple questions to think about:
What makes you struggle with staying disciplined?
What small, consistent actions have helped you stay on track over time?
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