The Necessity of Discipline

There is a subtle but objective distinction to be made between the idea of work and that of discipline. They often manifest themselves in identical behavior so the distinction in action is not always apparent. Discipline always involves work in some form but work is generally not the product of discipline. The difference lies in the immediate source of motivation for whatever you productive action you have to be taking.

The predominant source of this motivation is external. You show up at your job, take care of social/familial obligations, mow the lawn, follow the law. You do these things to ensure the paycheck continues to arrive, avoid the ire of the boss, and evade the disapproval of society and culture. Other people have a vested interest in your decision to do work of this type. If you don't negative reinforcement follows; they start taking things away. The risk/reward dynamic here is usually pretty clear...do A get A, fail to do A lose A.

Then there's discipline. The particular task may be the same or involve a similiar level of physical effort but the motivating factor here is internal. You change you're diet, go to the gym, try new things, foster a passion, develop an innate talent, engage in creative expression. Perhaps this leads somewhere, perhaps it doesn't. You'll undoubtedly fail at times, become discouraged, be humbled, decide its not worth it, maybe even abandon all efforts entirely. Certain people may encourage you but fundamentally nobody cares...your abundance/lack of discipline isn't fucking up anybody's day.

So it seems rather obvious no? To the extent that your life consists of normal "work" the rewards will be predictable, moderate, and ever diminishing. You will maintain, occasionally get lucky and take what's given. It will become harder as potential and opportunity yield to time.

With discipline the result is unknown. The effort precedes an entirely featureless and mysterious future. You're literally constructing the road as you walk, drawing the map as you traverse it. You begin fraught with anxiety, unsure of whether to proceed. Maybe it gets easier, probably it doesn't.

I've been squarely in first category for 28 years, Im gonna try the next 28 in the second.
How about you?