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Diny Davis (she/her/hers), Low Entropy Volunteer Writer

“Commitment is an act, not a word” – Jean-Paul Sartre

Commitment, a word so commonly used, is a fine line between passion and discipline. When we talk about achieving our goals, whether it’s getting in shape, writing a book or starting a business, two important things come to mind: passion and discipline. At first, they seem like two sides of the same coin, and they are highly important in our journey to success. But as we try to understand them deeply, it becomes evident that one of them is significantly easier to depend on than the other. Let’s dive into the details of passion versus discipline, and discover how one can be simpler, yet far more rewarding.

The Power of Passion

Imagine passion as a wildfire. It’s the spark that ignites our drive to pursue our dreams. Passion is emotionally driven, making it incredibly powerful, but also somewhat unpredictable. It fuels creativity and gives us a sense of purpose. Passion often strikes without warning, filling us with an overwhelming desire to achieve.

The Pitfalls of Passion

Its intensity can fluctuate, leading to inconsistency in our efforts. Passion can blind us to reality, creating unrealistic expectations. It’s difficult to sustain a long-term process if we are completely focusing only on passion.

The Steadiness of Discipline

Discipline, in contrast, is the backbone of progress. It’s the structured approach to achieving our goals. It’s less about immediate gratification and more about the long process. Discipline is what helps you get out of bed in the cold mornings when your passion gives up. It’s discipline that keeps pushing you forward, step by step, towards your goals.

Discipline is a skill that can be developed and strengthened over time. It provides a roadmap to success, making our goals more achievable. Discipline ensures consistency, regardless of how we’re feeling emotionally.

Why Discipline Beats Passion

It’s reliable. Discipline doesn’t fade with time or fluctuate with our moods. Discipline allows for measurable progress, which in turn fuels further dedication. Over time, discipline becomes a habit, making difficult tasks easier to handle. There is a psychological study that suggests that it takes an average of 66 days for an activity to become a habit. In sustaining any sort of habit, discipline plays a vital part.

The Challenge of Staying on Track

The main stumbling block with discipline is that it’s not easy to adopt. Many view it as a difficult path to follow, and they believe that it deprives their tasks of joy. This misconception often leads people to shy away from developing a disciplined approach, fearing it will make their creative skills disappear.

Striking the Right Balance

While passion and discipline both play critical roles in achieving success, leaning too much on passion can leave us feeling lost. If you concentrate only on passion, once you feel tired, that initial excitement fades away. 

Discipline, on the other hand, is like a muscle that grows stronger with use. By focusing on building discipline, we can ensure that our efforts towards our goals remain consistent and effective, even on the days when passion doesn’t survive.

Embracing Discipline Over Passion

Set small, achievable milestones to track your progress. Develop a routine that aligns with your goals. Celebrate the small victories; they add up over time.

The heart of the matter is that passion and discipline are not rivals; they are partners in achievement. Passion motivates while discipline executes.

Conclusion

When it comes to passion versus discipline, it’s clear that, while passion can light the way, discipline is the vehicle that will get you to your destination. The flames of passion may gradually reduce, but the steady power of discipline, once sharpened, will carry you through your goals.

From my own journey, I’ve learned that passion can be sustained with discipline. You may want to discontinue a passion, but if it is done with discipline, it will bring you back on track. 

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Diny Davis is an aspiring author who is passionate about fitness and a strong believer in the close connection between physical and mental health. She is a journalism, psychology and literature graduate, a loving wife and a caring mother who maintains a balance in her work and personal life while giving emphasis to self-care.