Welcome back to Book Bites. Big ideas and small bites. And today we're looking at Discipline is Destiny.
The Power of Self-Control. Yes. By Ryan Holiday.
It's right. Now this is another one in his Stoic Virtue series. It is.
Yeah. And this one this one came out in 2022. OK.
So it's been out for a couple of years and it's 352 pages. It's got a 4.28 average rating. Wow.
That's pretty good. Over 14,000 reviews on Goodreads. Yeah.
Sounds like it's resonated with people. So does discipline truly pave the way to freedom and greatness as Holiday claims? That's the big question, isn't it? It is. It is the big question.
What do you think? Well, I mean, on the surface, it seems a little contradictory. Right. Discipline usually means restrictions, you know, limitations.
Yeah. Yeah. But freedom, that's all about boundless possibilities.
Right. Right. But Holiday, he kind of flips that whole idea on its head.
OK. He says it's actually by mastering those impulses, not being ruled by them, that we actually achieve true liberation. OK, I see what you mean, like those late night snack cravings.
Oh, yeah. Giving, you know, maybe it feels good at the time. Sure.
It can totally sabotage your health goals. Absolutely. And so, like, resisting those urges, that's what actually gives you the freedom to have that healthier lifestyle.
Exactly. You're free to pursue what you actually want long term. Yeah.
It's not just about that immediate gratification. Yeah. And it's not just about food, either.
Think about, like, financial discipline, you know, controlling your spending habits. Maybe it feels limiting at first. Yeah.
But it can ultimately empower you to make choices, choices that are actually in line with your values. Right. And you're free from that burden of debt.
Oh, for sure. Holiday says it really well. He says discipline is not a punishment.
It's a way to avoid punishment. We do it because we love ourselves. We value ourselves and what we do.
Yeah. I mean, I've definitely struggled with that in the past. You know, putting off important tasks because they just seem too big or too daunting.
I think we all do that sometimes. But I've noticed that when I, like, push through that initial discomfort and I kind of embrace that discipline. Yeah.
It actually makes me feel more in control. For sure. And then ultimately, I'm freer to pursue the other things that I really want to do.
Exactly. You've got more time and energy for the things you enjoy. Yes.
And that actually leads us to another key point that Holiday makes. It's about how physical discipline and mental discipline, they're really interconnected. OK.
He argues that when you build self-control in the physical realm, like through exercise, diet, things like that. Yeah. It actually creates a ripple effect that strengthens your mental resilience, too.
Interesting. So it's like training your mind to embrace challenges, whether they're big or small. I can see that.
Like the discipline of having a regular workout routine. Uh-huh. That could definitely translate into like better focus, more willpower in other areas of life.
Absolutely. He uses this really powerful image, he says. We treat it rigorously.
We restrain it. We dominate it. We treat it like a temple.
Wow. And he's talking about the body here, but it's really a metaphor for how we should approach our impulses in general. OK.
With respect, with discipline. You know, this mastery over our physical urges, it builds a foundation for mental toughness that then spills over into other parts of our lives. Interesting.
Yeah. It's like that saying, right? Healthy mind in a healthy body. Exactly.
But like these days, having a healthy mind also means you got to deal with all these distractions. Oh, tell me about it. It's like everywhere.
It is. Yeah. And Holliday's point is, in this day and age, being able to really focus deeply, that's more important than ever.
It really is. I mean, think about it. We're constantly bombarded with notifications and emails, social media.
It's never ending. Right. And they're all fighting for our attention.
Oh, yeah. So being able to just shut all that out, just concentrate, that's that's like a superpower. It is.
Yeah. I like how he says focus is not this thing you aspire to or something you do on Monday. Right.
It's something you do every minute. Every minute. It's this constant thing.
It is. It's a choice you make all the time. It's a practice.
So how do we do that? Like, does Holliday give any tips on how to actually get better at focusing? He does. Yeah. He talks about, like, meditation, making that part of your daily routine and just like setting clear priorities for yourself so you're not wasting energy on decision.
That decision fatigue. Yeah, exactly. And also just creating those spaces where you're not going to be distracted.
So it's really about like knowing your own triggers and what gets you off track. Yeah. And then coming up with strategies to deal with them.
That makes a lot of sense. For me, it's social media. That's like the biggest time suck.
Oh, yeah, I get that. I can just get lost scrolling, even when I know I should be doing something else. It happens.
So I think like setting specific times, that might help. That could work. Yeah.
Like, OK, this is my social media time. Yeah. So it doesn't bleed into other parts of your day.
Right. Exactly. It's all about self-awareness, you know, understanding your own weaknesses, your strengths.
Yeah. And then setting up systems that actually help you instead of holding you back. So we've talked about, like, training the body and the mind.
Right. But Holladay takes it a step further. What does he talks about embracing discomfort? Yes.
That that's how we grow. That's the key. So true growth.
It actually happens when you're outside of that comfort zone. Exactly. When things get tough.
And those are the things that make you more resilient. That's where you build that strength. It seems kind of counterintuitive though, right? Yeah, it's wrong.
We all try to avoid being uncomfortable. Naturally. But he says, no, you got to lean into those moments.
Yeah. Those challenging moments. That's where the magic is.
That's where it's at. When you struggle, that's when you discover what you're really capable of. And that's how you learn new skills.
You got to push yourself. He has that great line, do the hard things first. It's simple, but it's so true.
It is. And thinking back on my own life, like some of the most rewarding moments have been after I went through something really difficult. Oh, yeah.
Like, you know, really uncomfortable, uncertain times. Like there was this time I had to give a presentation. Oh, OK.
And it was to a huge audience. Wow. I was so scared beforehand.
I can imagine. But then the feeling afterwards, it was incredible. It's like you overcame that fear, that obstacle.
Yeah. Yeah. And you came out stronger on the other side.
Right. Exactly. And it doesn't have to be like these huge, life-altering challenges all the time.
It would be something small, like taking on a new project at work that pushes you a little bit or having that difficult conversation you've been putting on. Oh, for sure. It's those little acts of courage that build up over time.
Yeah, that makes sense. So speaking of pushing ourselves, Holiday also connects discipline with leadership. He does.
Yeah. He talks about this thing called silent leadership. It's a really interesting concept.
And it's about inspiring people. Not so much by what you say. Yeah, but by what you do.
By your actions. Leading by example. He says, powerful people impress and intimidate by saying less.
It's true. So it's less about giving orders and more about just like setting the standard. Exactly.
You show people what it looks like to be disciplined, to work hard. By doing it yourself. Exactly.
Think about like a leader who shows up early every day and they stay late, not because they're micromanaging. Right. But because they're dedicated to the work.
Yeah, yeah. That sends a powerful message to everyone around them. Totally.
Or a manager who stays calm. Yes. Even when everything's crazy.
Or under pressure. That inspires confidence in the team. It does.
Actions speak louder than words, especially when you're in a leadership position. It makes me think about how we can all be influential. Yeah.
Even if we don't have a fancy title or anything. It's true. Like at work, with our families and our community, whatever.
You can lead by example, just by being disciplined in your own life. But then Holiday also warns us about being too demanding of others. He does.
Yeah. Right. Like it's about finding that balance.
Balance is key. Holding yourself to a high standard. But also understanding that other people have their own limits.
Absolutely. You can't expect everyone to be exactly like you. Right.
It's so easy to fall into that trap though. It is, especially when you're trying to be the best version of yourself. It's about creating that environment where everyone feels supported.
Right. Exactly. You know, like we're all striving to do our best, but we're also being understanding of each other.
Compassion. Yeah. And Holiday, he sums it up perfectly, as he always does.
Oh yeah. He says, tolerant with others, strict with yourself. Yeah, I like that.
It's so simple. It is. Yeah.
But it's so powerful too. It's a good reminder. Like, you know, lead with empathy but also hold yourself accountable.
Right. Makes me think about parenting. You know, for sure.
You want to teach your kids to be disciplined, give them good values, all that. But you also got to let them make their own mistakes. You got to learn.
Right. Yeah. Figure things out for themselves.
It's that balance, isn't it? It is. Like, you're guiding them. Yeah.
But you're also giving them space. To be themselves. Right.
OK, before we finish up, there's one more thing I wanted to touch on. OK. Holiday talks about this idea of compound growth.
Oh yeah. I love that concept. So basically, like, small efforts, but you do them consistently.
Consistently, that's the key. And over time, that leads to big changes. Huge changes.
It's like magic, almost. It's pretty amazing. And it applies to, like, so many areas of life.
It does. Yeah. Like money, your skills, your habits, everything.
Anything you want to improve. And the important thing is to, like, fall in love with the process. Yes.
Not just be focused on the end result. It's about the journey, not just the destination. Exactly.
He says revolution, transformation. That's what amateurs chase. Oh, I like that.
The pros are after evolution. It's about those small steps. Yeah.
It's a reminder that, like, real change, lasting change, usually happens gradually. Little by little. You know, through those small things you do every day.
And it adds up over time. Just like investing. Exactly.
You put a little bit away each month. Yeah. Might not seem like much at first.
Right. But then compound interest. Bam.
It grows. You have this nice nest egg. Exactly.
Or think about learning an instrument. Oh, yeah. You practice, like, 15 minutes a day.
Doesn't seem like a lot. Right. But those minutes, they add up.
Yeah. And eventually you can play. You're making music.
You're a musician. It's so cool. It's about trusting the process, being patient.
Yeah. And I think that brings us back to discipline, right? It all ties together. It's not about being perfect or pushing yourself till you burn out.
No. It's about showing up every day. Consistently.
Making those little choices that are going to get you where you want to go. Too empowering. Right.
It is. It means that we can all make positive changes in our lives. We all have that power.
One step at a time. One step at a time. Well, this has been a great conversation.
It has. Yeah. I always love digging into these big ideas with you.
Me too. And discipline is destiny. It really gave us a lot to think about.
It did. So for our listeners out there who are interested, I highly recommend checking it out. Yeah.
It's a great read. Really thought provoking. I'll say it.
Gives you a lot of practical wisdom. For life in general. And while you're at it, don't forget to subscribe to Book Bytes for more insightful discussions on, well, thought-provoking books.
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