November: The Art of Discipline
Wherein systems, discipline and order actually lead to more creativity and freedom. Well, hopefully.
In the last few weeks, I’ve heard several people speak about discipline.
Discipline sounds distinctly boring to most of us, but hear me out.
Firstly I heard master life coach Tonya Leigh present on “The Art of Discipline”, where she said:
“Someone who is disciplined about money is actually relaxed about money.”
Substitute “money” for anything – health being an obvious one – and her point is that discipline actually allows us to stop thinking about something. Someone who is disciplined about not over-spending and automating some savings and investments, they’re not worried about money. It’s taken care of. It’s the discipline that gives them freedom.
I then came across Cal Newport talking about “arbitrary discipline”, where he advocates for discipline as the first tier of living a “deep life”. He speaks about how being disciplined to do things that are small but important helps show yourself that you are the sort of person who can do hard, optional things. This is key, because writing a novel or improving your photography or any kind of pursuit that is above the standard is optional. And optional things tend to require a level of discipline if we’re going to do them.
I then fell down another rabbit hole after doing some professional development with Amy Porterfield, who swears by her Full Focus Planner. Another tool for helping to nurture self-discipline.
And all of these people have changed my perception of the word, which I probably associated more with the Jocko Wilko/David Goggins world of ultramarathons and the military.
What is discipline as it relates to creativity and nourishing yourself? A novelist is disciplined enough to sit down each day and write. An entrepreneur is disciplined to start a business from nothing. Dance, painting, yoga, housekeeping – these are all pursuits that require self-discipline.
And so the art of discipline as it leads to creativity is the theme I wanted to explore this month.
Here are some links and suggestions to pursue the Art of Discipline too:
If you’re going to do all this beautiful concentrated work, you’ll need a great working playlist to do it to.
Tonya Leigh’s The Art of Discipline workshop that I mentioned above is part of her School of Self-Image membership.
I recently came across Cal Newport again (I read Digital Minimalism several years ago), and in this interesting video he talks about “arbitrary discipline” as I mentioned above. I also really love how he’s developing this concept of a “deep life” in real time and you can see him adapt it over the course of a few videos as he thinks about it more.
Steven Pressfield’s famous book The War on Art touches on this too – working on “unnecessary” pursuits. This link also goes to a short, free 27-minute introductory course that goes deeper into his ideas.
This is a random reference, but Téa Leoni in Madam Secretary perfectly captures so much of this idea of discipline for me. She has a military background, which certainly helps, but she navigates so much tension with elegance and justice and kindness, and if you haven’t watched it yet, I recommend it!
Are these the chicest free exercise videos on the internet?
Has the Tango Madeira account snuck onto your Instagram feed yet? I find myself totally engrossed with the structure and movement of tango, and the no doubt years of practice it takes to look so natural.
Ryan Holiday is slowly working his way through books about the stoic virtues, starting with courage, and more recently, self-discipline. I haven’t read much of Holiday’s work – can you recommend Discipline is Destiny?
I’ve long heard about the benefits of journalling, but one of my clients has presented a masterclass on it, and it’s reignited my interested. The masterclass is behind a membership paywall, but this video discusses similar benefits.
A different kind of journal, but I had my heart on finally getting a Full Focus Planner for 2024 until I added shipping, converted currencies and realised I’d be paying over $400AUD for 12 months of planners. So… ah, no. I instead ordered myself a planner from MiGoals ($). With a green cover, of course.
In case you missed it…
I spent hours thinking about what I consider my fridge essentials and then my home bar essentials in the my Biased Guide Series.
The first Menu came out, a new series where I pull together a menu (with recipes) for imaginary gatherings to inspire you to catch up with your loved ones. First up: a spring picnic, of course.
I started a new series called Wanderlist, where I share a place I’m dreaming about visiting. First up, 28 Degrees in Byron Bay.
Last weekend’s Life Curriculum includes do, make, watch, read and listen recommendations, as always.