Sunday, February 13, 2022

Brain Food: Uncommon Discipline

FS | BRAIN FOOD

No. 459 — February 13, 2022 — Read on FS

Welcome to Sunday Brain Food: a weekly newsletter full of ideas and insights that never expire.

FS

"This question sounds easy because it's straightforward. Actually, it's very hard to answer. It's intellectually difficult because the knowledge that everyone is taught in school is by definition agreed upon. And it's psychologically difficult because anyone trying to answer must say something she knows to be unpopular. Brilliant thinking is rare, but courage is in even shorter supply than genius."

— The Single Best Question

TKP Podcast

"You get recycling patterns where people are reactive. And so that's a definition for drama is, repeating patterns of reactivity."

— I sat down with leadership coach Diana Chapman. Based on the number of texts and emails I've gotten, this is one of our best episodes ever. We explore the drama triangle, the power of the whole body yes, making better decisions as a team, and so much more. Listen to this episode on FS (with show notes), Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or watch on YouTube. Become a member and get hand-edited transcripts.

Insight

"We have to be willing to confront the world as it is, not as we want it to be if we're going to be successful."

— Barry McCarthy

Tiny Thought

If small changes create big results, then why is success so elusive?

The answer boils down to a single word: discipline. Not many people have consistent discipline when times are good. Even fewer in times of stress.

Anyone can do something once. Not everyone can do it consistently. Eating healthy for a meal is common. Eating healthy all week is not. Working out occasionally is common. Working out a few times a week is not. Going to bed on time is easy. Doing it for a week is not.

Positioning yourself for future success is simple but not easy. The hardest part is the discipline required to do otherwise ordinary things for an extraordinarily long period of time, even when the results are barely noticeable.

When people say you need to love the process, this is what they mean. Can you do it when it's hard? Can you do it when other people stop? Can you work on something long enough to let it compound? Can you do it when the results aren't visible?

Putting yourself in a position for success is simple. Doing it day in and day out is hard.

Extraordinary results come from ordinary people with uncommon discipline.

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Explore Your Curiosity

"I asked why she wrote about her hardships, and she said, 'Because I had to get into school and advisers emphasized, like, sell your pain.'""

— Selling Pain

"I just straight up couldn't handle the pressure," she wrote. "Had an emotional break down the night before finals and my mental health and clarity just hasn't been on par. Looking forward to some time off and self care."

— How Olympians Embraced Mental Health