365 Days With Self-Discipline: 365 Life-Altering Thoughts on Self-Control, Mental Resilience, and Success

Day 51: On Taking Action, in Spite of Potential

Criticism

People who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those who are

doing it.

—Unknown

Some people don’t want to start exercising because they’re afraid that

others will laugh at their inability to perform a pushup or run for more than

sixty  seconds  without  losing  their  breath.  They  might  be  afraid  that  their

friends will talk behind their backs, taking bets when they’re going to fail.

Thousands of people all over the world dream of entrepreneurship, but

are afraid to take the first step because if their business fails, their ego will

suffer too hard of a blow.

Self-discipline  isn’t  only  about  forcing  yourself  to  do  things  that  are

unpleasant  for  the  sake  of  long-term  goals.  It’s  also  about  resisting  the

temptation  to  stay  mediocre  in  order  to  avoid  criticism.  True,  staying  in

your comfort zone is safe and there’s little criticism you’ll encounter along

the  way.  However,  there’s  a  high  price  associated  with  this  choice:  you

won’t ever get to change your current situation.

Over the long term, how important is it really that some unintelligent

meathead smirks at you at the gym when you’re struggling to complete a set

of  pushups?  Is  the  momentary  pain  of  that  really  greater  than  the  pain  of

regret when you realize that another year has passed without you acting on

your goals?

---