When we hear the term discipline, the first thing that comes into our mind is punishment. We do certain things because we want a reward. However, to achieve that promise for ourselves, we need to face multiple challenges. Others label it as punishment, and I couldn’t agree more. For instance, when you want to lose weight, some people ban themselves from eating certain snacks. If you want to get high grades, you need to block your distractions. However, you will realize that the things that you limit to yourself to become disciplined starts to feel like a punishment. We just need to go make it fun in order to reach our goals.
Recently, I noticed that I’m slowly losing weight. I had a terrible diet before that almost harmed me, so I decided to take another approach. Last year, I weighed around 80 kilograms, and now I’m already around 65–67 kilograms. My aunt even complimented how much weight I lost, and I noticed it too. Just comparing my face from November 2024 to now, I look better than before when my face looked puffier. I also became more conscious of my appearance since I show my face more often in my videos.
With regards to my career, I’m also slowly gaining progress. I noticed that I’m no longer stuck in the same performance as last month. It may not be as fast as I expected, but there is still progress happening. I feel like I’m now getting the right approach to target my audience. When I film myself on TikTok, I’m glad that I’m becoming more comfortable speaking in front of the camera. I also started to understand my YouTube analytics better, and I’m slowly learning what works. It may not be fast, but the most important thing is that I’m learning from it.
However, to accomplish these goals, we need both motivation and discipline (which is way better). Motivation can fade, but discipline will always stay with you. We should not only endure the process but also learn to enjoy it. That’s what I’ve been doing recently to ensure that I stay disciplined.
For example, whenever I wake up, I go to the countryside to walk with my dog. For some fur parents, it may feel like a chore. But for me, it feels like bonding time with my dog. It’s heartwarming to see how happy she gets whenever I hold her leash. The moment I grab it, she immediately runs toward me. I also do my Just Dance exercise routine where I dance to 10 songs, five times a week in the afternoon. This helps me avoid unnecessary snacking, but I don’t completely restrict myself from eating junk food.
As for my career, I try to treat it as a hobby for now. Building a personal brand on TikTok to showcase products is already a form of business. At the same time, growing a YouTube audience requires creativity, good branding, and knowledge of SEO. In a way, it is also a business. I’m glad that I took Marketing in college because it helped me understand how to position myself properly. When I create TikTok videos, I make sure they align with my interests and can connect with the right audience. I also focus on dogs and pop culture since that’s what I love, and I’m glad that I’m slowly reaching the exciting part. It just takes time and patience, but I’m happy that my hard work is gradually paying off.
My point is that we should not treat discipline as a form of punishment. We just need to enjoy the process, even if it’s hard. I’ve read many self-help books before, and they all say that challenges are part of life. We just need to choose how we struggle. For me, I would rather struggle this way than in other ways. I believe that my current lifestyle reflects my environment. I don’t think I would choose this path if I were working a regular job. But even if your environment changes, it’s still up to you how you apply your discipline and dedication.