I Found the Formula for Self-Discipline (Literally)

Summary

The video script delves into the concept of discipline, drawing insights from a 1993 military report by Major Kevin S. Donahue. It outlines a formula for self-discipline by differentiating between 'Discipline A', an internal attitude, and 'Discipline B', observable behaviors. The military's rigorous training methods are highlighted as a means to instill discipline, emphasizing the importance of setting clear standards, adhering to them without compromise, and building up to more significant challenges. The script suggests starting small and gradually increasing the complexity of tasks to maintain a 100% compliance rate, thus developing a disciplined lifestyle. It concludes with the idea that true freedom comes from obeying self-imposed rules, echoing Aristotle's philosophy that virtues are acquired through habituation to virtuous actions.

Takeaways

• 📜 Major Kevin S. Donahue's report on military discipline provides a framework for developing self-discipline in everyday life.
• 🤔 Discipline is not a single trait but a combination of discipline behavior (B) and discipline attitude (A).
• 🛌 The military starts discipline training with basic behavior standards, like making a bed, to build a foundation for discipline.
• 🏃‍♂️ Recruits undergo a structured routine in bootcamp to instill discipline through obedience and adherence to rules.
• 💪 Self-discipline is a skill that can be acquired through consistent training and practice, much like physical strength.
• 🚫 Creating personal standards and rules is the first step towards self-discipline, with no room for compromise.
• 🤯 Discipline involves deferring to the authority of your 'higher self' and following through with the plans you set for yourself.
• 🧐 Self-discipline is about respecting your own commands, which builds self-respect and a reliable behavioral pattern.
• 📉 Start with small, achievable standards to build a track record of success and gradually increase the difficulty as confidence grows.
• 🔁 Discipline becomes a habit through repetition and practice, eventually integrating into one's character and identity.
• 🎯 The ultimate goal of discipline is to enable consistent, reliable behavior and to master oneself, leading to personal freedom.
• 📚 Aristotle's philosophy is referenced to emphasize that virtues, like discipline, are acquired through habituation and become part of one's character.

Q & A

What is the main idea presented in the video about discipline?

The video discusses that discipline is not a single entity but should be considered in two separate categories: discipline behavior (Discipline B) and discipline attitude (Discipline A). It emphasizes the importance of self-discipline as a skill that can be acquired through a process of training oneself to obey self-imposed rules.

Who wrote the report 'Anatomy of Discipline' and what year was it written?

The report 'Anatomy of Discipline' was written by Major Kevin S. Donahue in 1993.

How does the military create discipline in its soldiers?

The military creates discipline in its soldiers through a process that begins with discipline B, which involves basic training or bootcamp. This process instills a rigid adherence to protocol and obedience to orders through structure, routine, and the threat of punishment.

What is the difference between discipline A and discipline B?

Discipline B refers to the observable, measurable behaviors of discipline, while discipline A refers to the internal disciplined attitude. Together, they create a truly disciplined soldier or individual.

What is the significance of the military's approach to discipline in the context of personal development?

The military's approach to discipline highlights the importance of setting clear standards, adhering to them without compromise, and the necessity of training until the desired behaviors become habitual. This can be applied to personal development to enhance self-discipline.

How does the video suggest one should start building self-discipline?

The video suggests starting with setting small, achievable standards or rules for oneself and following through with them without compromise. It emphasizes the importance of creating a 100% compliance rate with these standards to build self-respect and consistency.

What is the role of self-respect in developing self-discipline?

Self-respect is crucial in developing self-discipline because it involves respecting the orders that one gives to oneself. Each time a person follows through with a self-imposed rule, they build up self-respect and reinforce their power over themselves.

How does the process of discipline acquisition relate to Aristotle's view on virtues?

According to the document, Aristotle's view on virtues is that they are initially acquired through purposeful activation leading to habitual behavior, which eventually internalizes and becomes part of one's character. This aligns with the process of acquiring discipline A, where discipline becomes a natural part of one's identity.

What is the ultimate goal of acquiring discipline A?

The ultimate goal of acquiring discipline A is to integrate discipline into one's character and identity, making the choice to behave in a disciplined way a more natural and default choice, even when faced with temptations or challenges.

Why is it important to start small when building self-discipline?

Starting small is important because it allows for the establishment of a track record of success, which in turn builds self-respect and confidence. It also prevents setting oneself up for failure by avoiding overly ambitious or unrealistic standards that are difficult to maintain.

How does the video relate discipline to freedom?

The video relates discipline to freedom by suggesting that true freedom comes from the ability to obey self-formulated rules. When one has discipline, they are not slaves to their impulses but can make choices that align with their long-term goals and values.

Outlines

00:00

📜 Introduction to Military Discipline

The speaker introduces an internal military report by Major Kevin S. Donahue, which details the methods used by the US Army to instill extreme discipline in soldiers. The report, written in 1993, is said to have a profound impact on the speaker's understanding of self-discipline and consistency. The video aims to explore what discipline is, its importance, and provide a formula for individuals to become more disciplined. The military's approach to discipline is broken down into two categories: discipline behavior (Discipline B) and discipline attitude (Discipline A), with the former focusing on observable behaviors and the latter on internal attitudes. The process of creating disciplined soldiers begins with Discipline B in a structured environment known as bootcamp.

05:02

🏋️‍♂️ Creating Discipline B: The Military's Method

The paragraph explains how Discipline B is created within the military through rigorous training and adherence to strict standards. The military uses basic training to instill discipline by forcing recruits to follow orders and protocols without question, even when they face physical and mental challenges. This process involves resolving the internal conflict between the desire to follow orders and the instinct for self-preservation. The military's method is applicable to personal development, emphasizing the importance of setting clear standards, upholding those standards without compromise, and creating a reliable behavior pattern. The speaker also discusses the importance of self-respect and the power of committing to oneself.

10:02

🧠 Transitioning to Discipline A: Internalizing Discipline

The speaker discusses the transition from Discipline B to Discipline A, which involves internalizing discipline to the point where it becomes a part of one's character. This transition is compared to the process of acquiring a virtue, as described by Aristotle, where purposeful activation of a behavior leads to its habituation and eventual internalization as part of one's character. Once discipline becomes a part of one's identity, it influences natural behavior, making disciplined choices more instinctive. The example of Jocko Willink, a disciplined ex-Navy SEAL, is used to illustrate the concept of discipline as part of one's identity.

15:03

🛌 Starting Small: Building Self-Discipline

The speaker outlines a process for acquiring self-discipline, starting with setting small, achievable standards and gradually building up to more significant challenges. The importance of maintaining a 100% compliance rate with these standards is emphasized, with the military's practice of making one's bed as an example of a small but effective discipline to start with. The process involves starting with manageable tasks, adding more significant goals once small successes are achieved, and continuously upholding these standards. The speaker advises being vigilant with these disciplines for at least a year to ensure they become ingrained habits.

20:04

📚 Conclusion: Freedom Through Self-Discipline

The video concludes with a final thought on the value of self-discipline, quoting Aristotle to emphasize that freedom is achieved through obedience to self-formulated rules. The speaker reiterates the importance of self-discipline as a foundational skill for self-mastery and personal growth. They also promote their upcoming online course, 'How to Change,' for further guidance on the topic.

Keywords

💡Self-discipline

Self-discipline refers to the ability to regulate one's own behavior, emotions, and impulses to achieve goals and adhere to a standard of behavior, even when it is challenging. In the video, self-discipline is portrayed as a crucial life skill that can be developed and is likened to the discipline instilled in military training. The video emphasizes that self-discipline involves creating and adhering to personal standards and rules, which is exemplified by the military's rigorous basic training.

💡Behavioral reliability

Behavioral reliability is the consistency and predictability in a person's actions, ensuring they perform as expected regardless of their internal feelings or external circumstances. The video discusses how the military cultivates this trait in soldiers through discipline, which is essential for the functioning of a cohesive unit. It is related to the theme of the video as it underpins the idea that discipline is not just about following orders but about becoming a reliably consistent individual.

💡Discipline B and A

The video introduces the concept of 'Discipline B' as observable, measurable behaviors of discipline, and 'Discipline A' as the internal disciplined attitude. These two categories work together to form a truly disciplined individual. 'Discipline B' is developed through structure and routine, while 'Discipline A' is the internalization of discipline as a part of one's character. The distinction is central to the video's message about the multifaceted nature of discipline and how it can be cultivated.

💡Bootcamp

Bootcamp, also known as basic training, is an intensive training program used by the military to transform civilians into disciplined soldiers. In the context of the video, bootcamp is where discipline B is instilled through rigorous routines, strict protocols, and immediate obedience to orders. It serves as a real-world example of how discipline can be taught and ingrained through a structured and demanding environment.

💡Rigid adherence to protocol

Rigid adherence to protocol implies a strict and unwavering commitment to a set of rules or procedures. The video uses this concept to describe the military's approach to discipline, where recruits are expected to follow orders and protocols without question. This concept is integral to the video's narrative as it illustrates the extreme level of discipline required in the military and how such discipline can be applied to personal development.

💡Resolving the clash of wills

Resolving the clash of wills is about overcoming the internal conflict between one's desires and the need to adhere to discipline. The video discusses this concept in the context of military training, where soldiers must suppress their natural instincts for self-preservation and instead follow orders, even into dangerous situations. In the video, this idea is extended to personal self-discipline, suggesting that one must learn to silence the voice of complacency and choose to act according to their self-imposed standards.

💡Creating standards

Creating standards involves establishing clear rules and expectations for oneself. In the video, this is presented as the first step towards self-discipline. The video emphasizes that discipline begins with setting personal standards and then consistently following through with these rules. This concept is central to the video's message about taking control of one's behavior and building a disciplined lifestyle.

💡Upholding standards

Upholding standards means maintaining and enforcing the rules and expectations one has set for oneself without compromise. The video stresses the importance of this concept by highlighting the military's zero-tolerance approach to discipline. It is a key component in the video's formula for developing self-discipline, as it involves taking one's own rules seriously and ensuring consistent adherence to them.

💡Setting up for success

Setting up for success is about creating achievable goals and standards that one can realistically follow through with. The video advises starting with small, manageable tasks to build a track record of success, which in turn fosters self-respect and the confidence to tackle larger challenges. This concept is crucial to the video's theme as it provides a practical approach to developing discipline without setting oneself up for failure.

💡Acquiring discipline through training

Acquiring discipline through training is the process of repeatedly practicing desired behaviors until they become habitual. The video draws a parallel between military training, where discipline is drilled into soldiers until it becomes second nature, and personal self-discipline, where one must consistently practice self-imposed rules until they are internalized. This concept is central to the video's message about the transformative power of discipline and how it can be cultivated.

💡Freedom through discipline

Freedom through discipline is the idea that true freedom comes from the ability to control one's actions and choices according to self-imposed rules and standards. The video concludes with an Aristotelian quote emphasizing this concept, suggesting that discipline is not about restriction but about empowerment. It encapsulates the video's overarching message that self-discipline is a path to personal mastery and autonomy.

Highlights

The military's secret to extreme discipline involves teaching behavioral reliability, or consistency, which is crucial for self-discipline.

Major Kevin S. Donahue's report from 1993, 'The Anatomy of Discipline,' provides insight into how the US Army creates disciplined soldiers.

Discipline is not a single entity but can be divided into two categories: discipline behavior (B) and discipline attitude (A).

Discipline B refers to observable, measurable behaviors, while discipline A pertains to an internal disciplined attitude.

The military's bootcamp is designed to instill discipline B through structure, routine, and rigid adherence to protocol.

Recruits learn to obey orders, subduing personal feelings and desires in service of obedience.

The military's method of discipline involves forcing trainees to behave in a rigid, disciplined way until it becomes a habit.

Self-discipline is the skill of showing up for oneself, even when it's challenging, and committing to a plan to achieve goals.

Creating discipline involves setting standards, upholding those standards without compromise, and setting oneself up for success by creating achievable orders.

Discipline is acquired through training until it becomes a habit, at which point discipline behavior transitions into discipline attitude.

Aristotle's concept of virtues suggests that virtues are acquired through purposeful activation leading to habitual behavior, which eventually forms a virtuous character.

Once discipline becomes a part of one's character, it is more naturally expressed, and the disciplined choice becomes the easier one.

The process of acquiring self-discipline involves starting with small, achievable standards and gradually building up to a disciplined lifestyle.

Admiral McRaven emphasizes the importance of making your bed every morning as a foundational discipline that sets a positive tone for the day.

To build self-discipline, one must start small, maintain a 100% compliance rate, and gradually add more significant standards as they succeed.

Discipline requires ongoing vigilance, with the first year being critical for establishing a disciplined lifestyle.

Aristotle's quote, 'Freedom is obedience to self-formulated rules,' encapsulates the essence of self-discipline and its relation to freedom.

Transcripts

- I somehow found this internal military report

on their secrets to extreme discipline.

And what I found here is actually life-changing.

Think about it, procrastination, laziness

and not feeling like it.

None of that is tolerated in the military.

Somehow they're able to take average people,

thousands of them every year and teach them

what this paper calls behavioral reliability,

otherwise known as consistency.

Self-discipline is the power and self-control

to do the things you know you need to do day in and day out.

And this report has transformed my understanding

of how you acquire discipline and even what discipline

and self-discipline actually are.

Written in 1993 by Major Kevin S. Donahue,

the anatomy of discipline breaks down how and why

the US Army creates disciplined soldiers.

I'm not quite sure how I found this.

I haven't seen it anywhere else online,

but from it I feel that we can extract

a formula that anyone can use

to start becoming a more disciplined person.

In this video, you'll learn what discipline actually is,

how important it's to your life and a formula you can use

to get more of it.

Like I'm actually so excited for today's video

'cause you are gonna learn some extremely useful stuff.

This may be the most valuable video

I have made in a maybe ever.

So if you find even one good tip,

please let me know in the comments

and hit the like button if you wanna see more content

like this.

(wind whistling)

So the main idea of the document

is that discipline isn't really just one thing.

Instead it should actually be considered

two separate categories.

These categories both work together

to create a discipline soldier or in our cases

just a disciplined self.

But before we discuss the paper's idea

of military discipline,

let's take a look at the dictionary definition of discipline

so we're all on the same page.

I think the Cambridge definition of self-discipline

is probably most similar to what we think about

when we think to ourselves,

I wish I had more discipline.

Self-discipline is the ability to make yourself do things

you know you should do even when you do not want to.

I say that's pretty spot on in terms of the way

that we understand discipline.

And as I've learned and as you'll learn today,

discipline is actually a skill.

It's a skill that anyone can acquire

and it's a process of training yourself

to obey your own rules.

I quite literally cannot think of a skill

more valuable than this.

And for me, this document has unlocked exactly

how you do that.

So according to the military, discipline should be split

into two separate things, discipline B and discipline A.

Discipline behavior and discipline attitude.

Discipline B refers to the observable, measurable behaviors

of discipline.

Well, discipline A refers to internal disciplined attitude.

Both B and A together are what create

a truly disciplined soldier, and they're both acquired

in different ways.

And in the military, this entire process begins

with discipline B and what the military calls bootcamp,

otherwise known as basic training

(drill sergeant screaming)

Every year the US military needs to take thousands

of wide-eyed, uninitiated, young men and women

and turn them into a well-oiled, disciplined machine.

The moment the recruits step foot off the bus,

they'll leave their old lives behind

and be plunged into 10 weeks of what the document calls

a booster shot of discipline.

Here's what that looks like.

In basic training each day begins with yelling

and whistle blowing around 4:00 or 5:00 AM

(whistle blowing) (bell ringing)

(drill sergeant yelling orders)

- That was devastating.

I was like, I want to go home

- From there, recruits must spring into action

as they only have a few choice minutes to prepare themselves

for the grueling day ahead.

In the world of discipline B,

structure and routine are paramount.

Here nearly every moment is scheduled, accounted for,

and regulated, and nearly every behavior seems to be subject

to a rigid code of conduct.

Respond like this, hands at your sides, feet right here.

Every action must be executed exactly

according to instruction.

Rigid adherence to protocol is the only option available

to a recruit unless they want to endure one of several forms

of punishment, regardless of who they were before training,

recruits will have their desired

behavior drilled into them until it becomes habit.

In basic training, recruits are essentially

learning one thing above all else.

To obey orders, recruits must forget about what they feel,

what they think they want,

or even what they think they need.

These feelings must be subdued in service of obedience,

in service of following the orders that were given

to them at all costs and under extreme pressure.

Your orders don't care that you're tired, sore,

that you don't feel like it.

You've got to do what you've got to do no matter what.

(wind whistling)

Now, according to the document,

the protocol we've just described is how you create an army

of discipline soldiers.

And to sum it up, it's done by forcing the trainees

to behave in a rigid disciplined way.

Under threat of punishment, you do what you're told

and if you step outta line, your insolence will be punished.

And then essentially the habit of following orders,

no matter what is drilled in so many times

that it becomes habit.

In other words, what they're doing to create discipline B

is essentially just forcing themself to behave

in a disciplined way until they actually become disciplined.

And if this is what the military has deemed results

in disciplined behavior, I believe them.

Because let's think about it.

You and I are trying to master the art of doing

what you're supposed to do, even when you don't feel like it

to better our lives and better our character.

But in the military, having soldiers execute

on what they said they'd do,

having them behave in a predictable, reliable way

every single time is a matter of life and death.

You have to take thousands of people and train them all

to behave with what the document called

behavioral reliability.

Executing even and especially when they don't feel like it.

Like if you think about it, what they're actually training

them to do is silence every instinct in their body

that tells them to run away from danger

and run directly into it instead.

And the document actually describes this

in a really, really useful way for us

trying to create self-discipline.

They call it resolving the clash of wills within.

In the military's case,

it's the will to be disciplined/follow orders

versus the will to live.

Now in our case, the clash of will seems almost trivial

in comparison.

The will to do what you said you would do versus the will

toward relaxing, sleeping, eating, chilling,

the main manifestations of just not feeling like it.

But if you think about it, this resolution

is do or die in terms of our own lives.

Do you have the power to really commit to something

and show up for yourself every single day

regardless of how you feel?

Do you have the power to push past feelings of discomfort

to consistently do the things you know are best for you?

Do you have the power to silence all doubts, impulses,

desires inside you to execute the task at hand

over all the weeks, months, years that it might take

in order to reach your goals?

This is self-discipline.

It's the skill of showing up for yourself

when you need it the most.

It's doing the hard things day after day

for no other reason than you said you would.

Discipline is deferring to the authority

of your higher self, the self that knows what's best for you

and has crafted a meticulous plan to get you there.

A plan that would deliver to you the life of your dreams

if only you could stick to it.

Also, I hope you guys know that I'm saying all this

as someone who's also trying to be more disciplined,

not as someone who's like attained lots of discipline.

You know, it's funny, most of us would never think

of breaking big promises to our loved ones

or missing a deadline for our boss at work,

but then we're 100% comfortable letting ourselves down.

But in basic training, you basically don't have the luxury.

You're being forced to show up and perform

according to plan, no matter how you feel

Zero tolerance, no excuses, and there's a drill sergeant

literally screaming in your face

making sure that that happens.

But although their methods are a little different

than what we might be able to do at home.

The military's process of creating discipline B

reveals some core truths

about how we can create discipline ourselves.

I truly didn't comprehend this concept

until I made this video.

I didn't quite see how discipline differed from say,

self-control or willpower.

I also kind of thought it was just about just doing it,

or just forcing yourself every time you didn't feel like it.

And yeah, obviously it's a little bit of that,

but it's also a lot more than that.

So here's what we can take away about acquiring discipline B

from the military's example,

(wind whistling)

How to become disciplined.

One, discipline starts with standards.

In basic training, nearly every behavior

is subject to a standard, a rule.

It has a clear process for the way that it should be done.

Similarly, self-discipline starts with creating standards,

rules and plans for your own behaviors

and then following through with the rules

that you create for yourself.

Two, uphold said standards. Leave no room for compromise.

The military and its drill sergeants give zero (beep)

that you did not get enough sleep.

They don't care how you feel today.

They don't even care if you're sick.

They really don't care if there's a really good reason

that you can't.

If something is in order, it's in order. End of story.

This is again so revealing about how we can actually become

self-disciplined people.

Because how many of us, myself, very much so included,

have rough instructions a general guide

for what they want outta themselves each day,

but leave tons of room for compromise.

I'll make a to-do list for myself, knowing full well

writing them all down that I don't even have time

for half the things that I put on that list.

But if our goal is behavioral reliability like the military,

then this is an issue.

Because to cultivate self discipline, we need some rules

for ourselves that are never optional, zero compromise.

Like the military couldn't produce discipline B

if either A, the standards were unclear,

or B, the drill sergeants didn't uphold the standards

half the time because it's the combination of the both,

the rules and the adherence to those rules

that creates predictable, reliable behavior

when it matters most.

Think about what would happen if you tried to train a dog

to do something, but half the time you decided

that the dog's response was optional.

You ask them to sit, but you still gave them a treat.

If they didn't sit, the dog is learning that your rules

don't mean anything, they don't matter.

And so sometimes they'll sit and sometimes they won't.

And that's what you actually train them to do

by being inconsistent with your rules

and your standards of what you're asking of them.

So creating behavioral reliability, creating the conditions

that ensure that you show up for yourself every single time

is about following your own rules and taking your own orders

very seriously, I told you there was life changing stuff

in this video.

Like isn't that not just like.

In my opinion, this is all also a form of self-respect.

You're respecting the orders that you give yourself

as if there would be a harsh punishment,

as if there was a drill sergeant waiting

to give you a sugar cookie

if you didn't do what you said you would.

Now with self-discipline, there's obviously no one coming

to yell at you for breaking the promises

that you made to yourself.

So in this instance, you're both the soldier

and the sergeant, and to the extent

that the two have a solid, dependable relationship,

you get behavioral reliability, you get consistency

and predictability of behavior.

The drill sergeant creates the orders

and the soldier follows through no matter what.

That's their relationship and it's ultimately built

on respect.

How much respect you have for your own word?

Your answer will be dependent on your previous track record

of success and the relationship between the part of you

that creates the orders and the part of you that follows

through with the orders or doesn't.

So framing it this way you can see that every time

you break a promise to yourself,

it's your self-respect that's on the line.

In other words, you either build up or tear down

the power that you have over yourself with ever behavior

you do or don't follow through with.

So from this, we have our first formula

for creating self-discipline.

One, create standards for your behavior

and two, follow through with them no matter what.

Through this, you're building respect for the sanctity

of your own commands and you're building respect up

for yourself by following through

with what you said you'd do.

Which points to another important element

of self-discipline.

Three, set yourself up for success by only creating orders,

you can and will follow.

The tasks asked of a military recruit on day one

are a lot different than the tasks asked of them

on the first day that they step onto the battlefield.

You can't expect them to perform incredible feats

of discipline until they've been trained to do so.

That's obvious yet how many of us create

impossible standards for ourselves

and then beat ourselves up for not achieving them.

It's important to not only be the good soldier

that follows through, but also a good drill sergeant,

a good leader of yourself so that you have the opportunity

to build up that self-respect and self rapport.

I'm eroding my authority with myself

if I'm creating standards and rules for myself

that I can't possibly comply with.

If you're starting with zero self-discipline, no order,

no rules in your life that you have a track record

of consistently following through with,

then making your standard the like perfect daily routine

is not only unrealistic, but by the logic of this video,

detrimental to creating actual discipline

because then your drill sergeant is all bark and no bite.

Because if the drill sergeant is creating rules

that the soldiers can't win and they're unnecessarily cruel

or difficult to the men that they're trying to train,

then they're creating insubordination

because they haven't earned the men's respect.

A real leader challenges their team,

but at the current level, every time you create a rule

for yourself that's too hard or impossible

to follow through with, you undermine

that relationship within.

And finally, the fourth truth based on the document

is that four, discipline is acquired through training

until the point of habit.

Did anyone start watching this video thinking

that discipline is maybe like a thing

that you kind of have it or you don't

like a personality trait?

I know throughout my life the most people that I've known

that have been extremely disciplined have been kind of like

that their entire lives.

So it's definitely something that crossed my mind.

But the military example is just so illuminating.

In the army they train their officers to acquire discipline

by drilling the desired behavior into them

over and over again until the desired behavioral response

becomes habit.

And this according to the document,

is the beginning of the acquisition of discipline A.

So according to the document, once you've had so much

training and discipline, discipline, behavior,

that it becomes habit.

You transition to disciplined attitude.

But a better way of saying it is that at the point

that the transition occurs,

you move from merely behaving in a disciplined way

to actually being a disciplined person.

At this point, discipline actually seeps its way

into your character and identity and actually becomes

part of who you are.

This is when things get really interesting.

I think discipline A is what each of us are looking for,

when we say, ugh, I wish I had more discipline.

What we're really asking for is more of the skill

of discipline, the power to employ this tool as we need it.

Because as the document claims,

discipline control from without can only be relaxed safely

when it is replaced by something better,

control from within.

So until we transition to discipline A,

we're gonna have to be really mindful

about continually forcing ourselves into discipline behavior

over and over and over again.

So until this point, discipline is really something

that we're doing, but it's not really something

that we have.

We haven't actually acquired it as a skill yet

until we transition to discipline A.

And I thought it was really interesting that the document

then goes in quotes Aristotle in discussing

how exactly a virtue such as discipline might be acquired.

Quote, "Virtues are initially acquired

through their purposeful activation

leading to the habitation of virtuous deeds.

Eventually the learner internalizes the habitual behavior

leading to the next step of virtuous character."

And according to literally Aristotle,

once a virtue becomes part of your character,

becomes part of your identity, this is when things

really start to shift.

You start to behave more naturally in a way

that's more aligned with this new part of your self concept.

Once you've really and truly acquired discipline,

the choice to behave in a disciplined way

becomes the more natural choice to you.

The best way to explain this is probably

through Jocko Willink.

You somehow don't know who he is.

He's an ex Navy seal who like bleeds discipline,

whose whole brand is discipline, who has posted a screenshot

of his watch saying 4:30 AM,

the time he gets up to workout every single day

for like years now, his Instagram kills me.

At this point being this disciplined of a person,

it would probably in a way be more difficult for him

to behave in a way that's undisciplined

versus behave in the disciplined way.

It's hard to make that make sense.

It doesn't mean that he's not tempted to slack off.

I'm sure he does like everyone else,

but at this point, his identity is so intertwined

with the virtue of self-discipline,

he can really count on himself and his character to show up

and do the hard thing even and especially

when he really doesn't want to.

And obviously that's exactly what we're looking for

when we say I want more self-discipline.

We wanna be able to stay on track with our goals

no matter what.

We don't wanna be battered around by circumstances.

We wanna be in charge of ourselves when it matters the most.

We want to become masters of our minds.

We want to be able to choose the harder

but clearly better option in any and all situations.

So let's put everything that we've learned into a process

on how to acquire discipline for ourselves.

To acquire the virtue of discipline.

As we said before, one, start with our standards.

Create rules and standards for yourself.

Two, never break these promises to yourself.

Do not compromise an inch on these standards.

Three, the most important thing is to keep these promises

at all costs.

So therefore, start small.

Until you've established a track record of success,

you wanna be extremely cautious with which things

that you choose to be standards.

Now the classic military example is making your bed.

And I think this is pretty much the perfect discipline

for most people to start with.

As evidenced by the 49 million viewed video

by Admiral McRaven on the importance of making your bed.

- If you make your bed every morning,

you will have accomplished the first task of the day.

It will give you a small sense of pride

and it will encourage you to do another task

and another and another.

And by the end of the day, that one task completed

will have turned into many tasks completed.

Making your bed will also reinforce

the fact that the little things in life matter.

If you can't do the little things right,

you'll never be able to do the big things right.

And if by chance you have a miserable day,

you will come home to a bed that is made.

- But you have to be smart, if you're currently at a point

where you are always late for work or you're really chaotic

in the morning, then setting that as your first discipline,

you might be setting yourself up for failure.

The goal is 100% compliance rate.

So start silly small.

Start with something you 100% know you can do

every single day, essentially for the rest of your life.

Four, build up to a disciplined lifestyle.

As soon as you've established a track record of success

with the silly small stuff, one by one,

start to add in the most important stuff.

Starting with things like adhering to a daily routine

of your choosing, working out,

or getting some sort of physical movement every day

and disciplined with your school or work.

Those are obviously very vague,

but you wanna look within them for the specific behaviors

that you can turn into standards or rules.

Do it one by one as soon as you've mastered one,

move on to the next one.

And again, upholding these standards

is the most important part.

Five, expect to be on guard with all of these disciplines

for at least the first year.

If you drop your guard, you may drop your disciplines.

I quite literally cannot think of a more valuable skill

than training yourself to obey your own rules

and creating a lifestyle where you adhere to the standards

that you create for yourself.

Like if you don't have the skill, then what do you have?

You know, like I feel like this skill is really

the basis for any sort of self-mastery.

I've always really valued discipline and like looked up

to people who are really disciplined,

but I never quite understood

how you could actually get more of it.

And the classic advice seemed to just be,

to just force yourself.

It was missing that piece about discipline

really being this whole process of training yourself

to take yourself seriously.

And to end it all off with another Aristotle quote

to the point of all of this,

is that the reason that all of this is worth the effort

if it wasn't already obvious,

is that, "Freedom is obedience to self formulated rules."

AKA, the 300 BC version of Jocko's discipline

equals freedom.

Hope you guys are enjoying the first taste

of the new content.

And if you haven't heard yet, my new online course,

How to Change, is almost ready.

Click the link below if you're interested

in more information.

Thank you so much for watching

and I'll see you in the next one.

(upbeat music)