Looking Inward to Shine Outward

Getting Started

The journey towards progress is long and tedious. But the hardest task is the soul-searching it takes to locate your starting point.

It took me quite some time to realize all of my troubles were rooted in a complete lack of discipline. It became so bad that I began to rationalize it as me being attentive and connected with my inner self. I would quip at people, “I don’t like saying no to myself,” not realizing the damage I was cementing in my neural pathways.

You see, I’ve read that it takes repeating an action 18 times in order for it to become a habit. I can’t even recall the number of times that I gave in to myself instead of doing the responsible thing at the moment. Whether it was watching TV over reading, sleeping in late over going to the gym, or even ordering out instead of preparing a meal, I slowly determined that I would reject moderation in all things.

Now, as I look back at all the missed opportunities to explore my passions or learn new skills, I feel the internal resentment that ironically, I was trying to avoid by giving into myself. With this new realization that there is satisfaction in discipline, my journey can begin. I first needed to feel that loss of time and progress to make the mental challenge my new prerogative.