In this hustle culture, discipline is all the rage.
I think we’ve lost sight of what it means to be disciplined, and we’re applying it to areas of our lives that may not necessarily require the amount of discipline we’re trying to force onto ourselves. It’s easier than ever to see how other people are living their lives, to see their routines, and think that if we don’t have the same 5 AM wake-up, we feel like something’s wrong. But it’s OK if we want to snooze. It’s OK if we have to snooze—because we have other duties during the day or at night that don’t allow us to get up super early and have the “perfect” morning routine.
I fear that we have forgotten about a little-talked-about, but just as important, mindset: consistency.
There are seasons where, as an entrepreneur, I wake up early and knock things out. But there are other seasons where my work doesn’t even begin until after dinner. When I first started letting go of that control and that force, it was extremely uncomfortable—but the Lord really pointed me to diligence and what diligence is versus discipline. Diligence is trusting in the Lord while still doing my part. And I would love if my part got done super early in the day every day, but realistically, it doesn’t always happen that way. But by being consistent, it does get done every day—maybe not at the same time, maybe not for the same amount of time, but I am taking steps, day by day, to do what God has called me to do.
In Proverbs, many times we are honored for being diligent—but not necessarily disciplined. So if there’s an area in your life where it’s really hard for you to be disciplined, consider trading that in for a consistency mindset and see how far you get.
Jesus tells us to take His burden—that it’s easy, that it’s light. Yet we live in a culture where, if things aren’t hard for you, you’re told you’re not doing it right. On the flip side, there’s been an extreme shift toward convenience—toward everything being easy. So we live in this weird dichotomy: everything should be super easy, and yet we also feel like we have to overexert ourselves in other areas of life that require us to be extremely disciplined.
I think I just want to rebalance life.
Diligence is important. But if you’re struggling to find balance, know that not every season—and not every area of your life—requires a bunch of discipline. Maybe it’s time to look toward consistency.
We can have consistency that doesn’t require discipline. I consistently brush my teeth—that doesn’t require discipline. It doesn’t require extra effort for me. And if I can simplify more areas of my life so they don’t drain my energy or require constant exertion, then I’m more able to live in rhythm with the slow and steady life of Jesus.
This doesn’t mean I’ll never need to practice discipline or self-control—in my finances or in certain seasons with food—but if I’m consistent in the small things, self-control becomes easier. It’s no different than habit formation. It’s about stewarding what I’ve been given so that discipline isn’t the thing I’m striving for every single day.
Take the next step
Choose one area of your life where you’ve set a goal. Focus your discipline and consistency there, and let the rest of your life be guided by grace-filled habits and rhythms. You don’t have to force discipline in every direction—just take small, faithful steps in one.
If you’re in a season where balance feels out of reach or you’re craving a more intentional rhythm, I’d love to support you. As a Christian life coach, I help creatives like you find clarity and create lives aligned with God’s pace.
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