I Don't Want to Write!
Is one read not enough? Discover why you might want to dive into this post twice (or even more).
Self-disciplined is a space in where I share my philosophy on how to attain discipline, gain confidence and efficiency and get your time back to do the things you love doing.
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Hello again!
I'm still new to Substack, and I've already had to restart my writing twice because I couldn't find the draft—silly me!
It's been a tough week, and to be honest, I'm struggling. I don't feel like writing. Not today, not this week. Have you ever been super motivated about something, only to feel that motivation slowly slip away? That's exactly where I'm at right now.
But I'm not sharing this to bring anyone down—quite the opposite. My goals here are to:
Have an honest conversation about struggles.
Show that we're all vulnerable, and even those who succeed face similar challenges.
Remind you (and myself) that we can push through.
I hope this post gives you some insight into my thought process, as it's part of my ongoing reflection on life.
The Journey of Self-Discipline
As I mentioned in my first post, I'm using this space to document my journey toward mastering discipline. One of the biggest takeaways so far is that struggles are inevitable. Our job is to not let those struggles block our path to success—whatever success means for you.
Sometimes, our struggles come from external events in our lives; other times, they come from the mental obstacles we create for ourselves.
I'm the kind of person who starts a project, but if things don't look promising after a while, I tend to give up. It's taken me years of reflection—and watching others persevere and succeed—to embrace the idea of pushing through with discipline. Maybe you're the same, or maybe you've already figured this out. If you're here, you're probably curious about my journey and what you can take from it.
Here's the thing, though: our journeys will always be different. The tools we use to achieve success might be the same, but the events that shape us along the way are unique. Even if you and I faced the same circumstances, the outcomes could still be drastically different.
It's not just about the big picture. Sometimes, it's the small details, the seemingly insignificant choices, that can dramatically alter our path. To illustrate this point, let me share a historical example that shows how two parties with the same goal can have vastly different journeys and results.
The Wright Brothers and Samuel Langley
The Wright brothers, Orville and Wilbur, came from a modest background and had no formal education in engineering. Yet, they showed extraordinary discipline. They spent years studying flight mechanics, conducting experiments, and meticulously testing their designs. Their approach was grounded, methodical, and driven by persistence. In 1903, their self-discipline paid off with the first powered, controlled flight at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina.
At the same time, Samuel Langley, a renowned scientist and director of the Smithsonian Institution, was racing toward the same goal. He had far greater resources, including significant financial backing from the U.S. government. However, Langley's approach was focused on achieving rapid results, skipping some of the smaller, crucial steps that the Wright brothers painstakingly handled. Despite several attempts and large investments, Langley's aircraft failed to achieve controlled flight, and his efforts ended in public disappointment.
Both Langley and the Wright brothers had the same ambition and worked within the same field. But their outcomes couldn't have been more different. The Wright brothers' disciplined, step-by-step approach ultimately led to their success, while Langley's impatience and reliance on external validation resulted in failure.
I'm sure both the Wright brothers and Langley faced struggles during their journeys. But what made the difference was the Wright brothers' ability to push through.
This story isn't just about success and failure. It's about how two groups, starting with the same goal and working in the same field, ended up with dramatically different outcomes. The small choices they made along the way — their approach to problem-solving, their persistence, their willingness to start small — all contributed to these divergent paths.
So, while you will still be able to take lessons and learning from my journey, that I've been sharing on this publication, you have to remember that many of the solutions I've implemented, problems that I have solved, are very tied to my experience and circumstances. Pick everything with a grain of salt. And don't forget that sometimes what can make the difference, even if our circumstances are the same is something as trivial as pushing through.
Final Thoughts
You and I? We can both push through too. If you feel like quitting, don't. Quit tomorrow—but read this article again tomorrow. Then, keep pushing.
Enjoy the rest of your day!
"Have you ever been super motivated about something, only to feel that motivation slowly slip away?" yup, it's a brutal feeling, and I've noticed that it's often accompanied by a rationalization of why that "thing" is no longer worth pursuing.