Keys to keeping the promises you make to yourself 

Are you sick and tired of breaking promises to yourself? You decide to pursue a goal, but you can never stick to it long enough to see it through. You know you need to have discipline. You have tried everything, but nothing seems to stick. We have all been there—setting big goals and being able to complete them are two very different things. Follow these 5 steps, and soon you will have discipline like David Goggins. 

Step 1: Focus on Your Why

Many dreams die because we lack the true inspiration required to stick to them in the most difficult times. Once you have your 'why,' set clear, concise goals that can be broken down into daily habits. Commit to these habits and remember your 'why' when times get tough.

Step 2: Focus on Your Fitness and Nutrition

Yes, I know you hear this all the time. But it doesn’t make it any less valuable. Not only will having a healthy body remove the biggest obstacle affecting most people's mindset, but it will also teach you everything you need to know when it comes to building unbreakable discipline.

Step 3: Learn the Power of Thoughts

Thoughts affect your life much more than many of us would like to admit. They shape our identity and lead us to make choices that align with that identity. Good or bad. By working on your self-talk and learning to control your thoughts, you can reshape your personal identity. This will allow you to have habits that serve you instead of habits that don’t.

Step 4: Focus on Your Routines

A quote from Andy Frisella’s new book, 'The Book on Mental Toughness,' summarizes the importance of routines. “Show me your last 1,000 days and I'll show you where you are in life. Your routines = who you are.” What are the things you do on a consistent daily basis? Are they serving you or are you serving them? This step is to drive home the point that your routines = you. Don’t like who you are or where you are in life? Change your daily routines. With enough time and effort, you will change.

Step 5: Develop an Understanding of Your own Neurochemistry

No, I am not asking you to go get a degree. However, you should have a basic understanding of how your mind works. Everything in our world is designed to target your brain's reward systems. These are the same systems that kept you alive when we were cavemen. These systems have one focus: survival and making our lives as easy as possible. By developing an understanding of your brain and its reward systems, you can take back control over your mind. The same systems that made you a slave in the past, you can now use to help you succeed. Watch these videos to develop a much better understanding of your brain. How to Increase Motivation & Drive Leverage Dopamine to Overcome Procrastination & Optimize Effort | Huberman Lab Podcast

You may have heard the saying that anything worth having in life takes time. This holds true, especially for discipline. Building discipline is not about reaching a destination; it's about embracing the journey that it takes you on. Start small; don't attempt to change everything at once. The desire for instant results typically leads to one thing, failure. Instead, focus on getting 1% better each day. Over time, these incremental improvements will accumulate. The goal is lasting change, so the duration is irrelevant. Keep moving in the right direction, and eventually, you'll get there. Do not quit, and soon, you'll find yourself unrecognizable to both yourself and those around you.

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