Discipline Is Destiny is a three-part manual to help you learn and practice the Stoic virtue of discipline in your life, enhancing your physical, mental, and spiritual well-being.
The majority of us are familiar with Hercules as this fabled, extremely powerful, club-wielding man who battles lions before lunch and can fend off vicious, multi-headed hydras all day long. But before everyone’s favorite Disney character and Greek demigod found himself at a fork in the road, he was “Hercules” in bold letters.
Hercules encounters two women, each appealing with him to choose her way, as he stands at a genuine fork in the road in the woods. One is half naked, unbelievably gorgeous, and offers him a life full of pleasure and absolutely free of suffering. The other is equally attractive but is dressed more formally.
The only rewards he will find on her path, she warns him, will be those he earns by bravery, honorable deeds, and yes, adversity. However, she assures him that her path will help him become the person he was destined to be.
The two women in this parable are Vice and Virtue, and given how magnificent Hercules became, I’m sure you can guess which road he choose. Has this incident actually occurred? Most likely not. But does it still matter? Yes, as our tale is central to it. At least, that’s what Ryan Holiday believes, which is why he uses this metaphor to start the second book in a trilogy about the four cardinal qualities of Stoicism—courage, discipline, justice, and wisdom—called Discipline Is Destiny.
The simplest method to develop discipline is to take control of your body, and you may accomplish this by making several modest improvements.
Starting with little, physical challenges makes it easier to develop discipline because you can feel how your body reacts to them. The next day after working out, you might feel the effects. You feel better refreshed when you go to bed early. That’s a fantastic method to let yourself know that developing discipline is indeed helping.
Holiday offers a number of suggestions, but the most crucial one is to simply show up. These suggestions range from eating healthily to engaging in hard activities like working out, taking cold showers, or walking a long way to work. When it comes to physical discipline, striving to accomplish a lot occasionally will have a far smaller impact than doing a little bit every day.
Holiday uses the renowned baseball player Lou Gehrig as an example; he played more than 2,000 games without missing a single one. Did he experience any illness during any of them? Of course. Nevertheless, he came, and that ultimately made all the difference.
We must learn to exercise restraint in order to be happy, and learning to control our thoughts is a lifetime endeavor.
Our contemporary society is rife with opportunities for rapid gratification, much like Vice screaming out to Hercules. It also seems to want to rapidly gratify all of our needs. However, if you’ve ever given in to those urges, you’re aware of how meaningless and unfulfilling it can ultimately seem.
When you order pizza whenever you want, your health will suffer. You won’t have a fulfilling career if you rage quit at work every time your boss says something rude. so forth. We need discipline to really enjoy life’s joys, therefore controlling our minds is a lifetime endeavor. When you do something constantly, it loses all value.
Try to take a moment to think before you act, consider your emotions, and master the art of purposeful denial. Above all, keep in mind that you will never be flawless. It’s alright if mastering our brains will take a lifetime.
Discipline is useless unless it serves the larger good, therefore be gentle and compassionate to yourself and to others.
According to Holiday, the ultimate form of discipline takes place on the spiritual realm. He cites the competitive horse carriage riders known as charioteers as a prime example. These athletes used their self-discipline for a greater purpose—in this case, to entertain their community—while recognizing that failure is simply a part of the process while juggling multiple tasks and duties at once while competing in a life-or-death situation.
In order to practice spiritual discipline, one must remain composed, put in the necessary effort, and steer clear of offending others. Maintain your composure when you are late for work. Just attempt to get through the day while you’re feeling drowsy.
Try to be respectful and diplomatic when others don’t understand why you’re doing something the way you are.
One morning when the Stoic philosopher Cleanthes was strolling through the streets of Athens, he came upon a man berating himself for some error. He reportedly reminded him, “Remember, you’re not talking to a horrible man,” according to Holiday. So certainly, be kind to others as you practice discipline, but also keep in mind to be good to yourself from time to time.
The idea that “discipline is destiny” suggests that an individual’s level of discipline, or their ability to control their behavior and stick to a plan or routine, can have a significant impact on their success and the outcomes of their life. This idea emphasizes the importance of self-control, consistency, and persistence in achieving personal and professional goals.
Discipline can involve setting and working towards goals, avoiding distractions and temptations, and maintaining a focus on what is important. By cultivating discipline, individuals may be better equipped to overcome obstacles, make better decisions, and create a more fulfilling life for themselves.
It is important to note that while discipline can certainly play a role in shaping one’s destiny, it is not the only factor. Other elements such as natural abilities, opportunities, and external factors can also influence an individual’s life outcomes.
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