Become the Most Disciplined Version of Yourself--Here’s How

Photo by Ramiro Pianarosa on Unsplash

When your discipline is low, the efficiency of your systems is also low.

We both know that society glorifies grit, hustle, and self-control. That some would have you believe you have a self-discipline issue.

You don't.

You have a systems issue.

You can't steamroll your way to success. You have to be thoughtful and deliberate with your words and actions. Be the vision of you you've always imagined. Do the things they would do regularly and often.

But when your systems are inefficient, you can't take the necessary steps to make meaningful change in your life.

When you're creating systems, three steps are critical to your initial success.

Step 1: Remove Friction

Systems are based on the habits, good or bad, that you have. The things you do daily, weekly, monthly, etc.

A system begins with a new habit to replace a bad one. This might include eating healthy versus eating a lot of junk food. Not writing at all to writing a page a day.

Once you have a new habit you'd like to form (i.e., one that your future self would do), you have to remove friction between you and your goal.

Make the habit so stupidly easy to start that it would be impossible not to do it.

This could include committing to the habit for 2 minutes or breaking the habit down into a single task. Then, build up to your first goal. Then your second. Third. And so on.

Example:

If you want to work out, you could sleep in your gym clothes so you're already ready in the morning. If that's a bit too much, you could put them on your nightstand, prompting you to change into them and do a single push-up at first.

Don't even think about going to the gym right away. Build up to it. Go from a single pushup to 20 or something, and then go to the gym to perform 20 pushups. Maybe you'll do more, maybe you won't--at first.

Step 2: Create Automatic Triggers

An automatic trigger is something you already do, an existing habit.

When you tie a new habit to one of these triggers, you make performing the new habit automatic.

You could make your coffee and then read. Brush your teeth and then meditate. Or go to the gym. It doesn't have to be complicated. Remember step one.

Step 3: Change Your Identity, Not Your Behavior

Instead of "I have to be disciplined," start thinking: I am a disciplined person, I am someone who never misses workouts, or I am someone who reads every night."

People act in alignment with their identity more often than with a behavior.

You are disciplined, so you can think in terms of identity versus behavior. Behavior requires society's ideas of grit, hustle, and self-control, whereas identity requires very little.

You do the thing because it's a part of you.

I'm a writer because I write. I'm a software developer because I develop software. I'm a singer-songwriter/producer because I've written and produced a few songs. I am an entrepreneur because I am figuring out how to make money online. My failures will only amount to my ultimate success.

Take on the same beliefs within you. You are capable.

Quick Recap: How To Be More Self-Disciplined

Step 1: Remove friction between you and your goal. Make good habits stupidly easy to start. For example, if you want to work out, sleep in your gym clothes so you're already ready in the morning.

Step 2: Create automatic triggers. Tie new habits to existing routines, also known as habit stacking. I've spoken about this in my previous issue, "5 Steps to Build Lasting Habits and Break Bad Ones." For example, do you want to meditate daily? Attach it to brushing your teeth, so you always meditate right after.

Step 3: Change your identity, not your behavior. Instead of "I have to be disciplined," start thinking: I am a disciplined person, I am someone who never misses workouts, or I am someone who reads every night." People act in alignment with their identity. Shift the way you see yourself.

---

P.S.

Pre-orders for the Personal Development Masterclass are live. If you’ve ever felt stuck in your head, this is your blueprint out. This course aims to assist you in:

• Transforming your identity within 30 days.

• Learning a repeatable habit system for every part of your life.

• Building consistency, confidence, and control over your daily routines.

Enter the code PREORDER25 at checkout to get $200 off the premium tier while pre-orders are live. Offer ends June 13, 2025, at 11:59 PM PST. Check it out here. Available June 13, 2025.

---