How To Develop Discipline And A Stronger Drive?

[Damir Elezi]

I am working on my dream to become a rapper and music-producer. At the moment I usually have a lot of spare time I could easily use to write songs, record, or learn the theory of it. I bought the equipment, I have time at the moment and it's really something I want. However, I still struggle with getting started every day. I wake up at 7:30 every day, even if I don't have anything else to do, but I usually don't start working on my craft until it's already like 3 or 4 pm. Half of the day just passes by and I spend all that time on reading about some philosophy (which I care about and enjoy, but it should really not disturb me working on my life purpose), watching youtube videos or porn. I realize that I might have an addiction. At the end of each day I feel bad because I could have used the time much more effectively. I feel like I just don't get things done. 
I also noticed that, when I work together with someone else, I can literally work for 7 or 8 hours without taking a break, without even thinking about eating or going to the toilet or anything. I also did this when I was alone 1 or 2 times, but only when I had very high motivation. In my regular every-day mind, it seems like I really lack discipline and work-ethic to really follow through. 
This mindset also applies to other areas in my life. I often procrastinate when it comes to fitness and even my job, but there I am just too scared of getting in trouble to just not show up. I often show up late though.
What can I do about this? What can I do to keep myself away from distractions, start right away and stay on course, without falling off every 30 minutes? Any advice?

[Siim Land]

Take Extreme Ownership and Full Responsibility Over Your Life

I remember being at the train station of Edinburgh, purchasing a train ticket to the airport with my last bit of money - there were barely enough nickels. My year as an exchange student had just been finished and I was heading back home.

I had just started my blog as well. But I didn’t want to take another job for the summer, like waiting tables or something else students do.

I decided to burn my boats. Despite being broke, I put in massive hustle the entire summer . Every day, I would spend 8–10 hours of creating content, writing articles and e-books. By the end of it, I had written 4 books, some of which were on the bestseller list on Amazon, and became financially independent.

Instead of waiting for the perfect moment, taking the easy route or quitting my blog, I took extreme ownership over my profession and turned pro.

This is the central core message of Jocko Willink’s and Leif Babin’s book Extreme Ownership. It’s about owning everything you are and have.

Extreme Ownership helps you to detach yourself from yourself.

• You come to terms with what you want to accomplish and commit to finishing it.
• Whenever you hit an emotional barrier, it’s a conflict between your desires and will.
• Keeping ownership in mind allows you to remember your priorities and act in spite of how you feel because you know it’s the right thing to do.

Other than that, being able to concentrate on one particular thing for long periods of time is a matter of neuroplasticity.

Focus, procrastination, discipline and willpower are mostly habitual patterns of thinking and behaving. Meaning, the way you do anything determines how you do everything. 

Luckily, neuroplasticity is a dynamic process and it works both ways. You just have to stay consistent with developing good habits and follow best practices.

Hopefully this helps.

Stay Empowered
Siim

[Harikrishnan]

I also have same problem i spend lot of time with philosophy reading etc which i love and have less time for my dream life purpose. What i learned is people who know there life purpose stick with it without any distraction. They only spend time on  what is good for there career. Problem i find with my self actualization journey is i spend more time on self actualization things than on my life purpose. 

[Damir Elezi]

@Siim Land And how exactly do I do this? I tried taking on that mindset a couple of times, but it does not last long usually. I think I might need a slow process to develop more discipline And commitment

[Nahm]

@Damir Elezi do cardio for 50 minutes.  then meditate.   this works for me.   i meditate into nonthinking and then allow, and the creativity in unencumbered by opposing thoughts / patterns.    

[Damir Elezi]

@Nahm you mean I should do that Every morning?

[alea]

@Damir Elezi You may take it too seriously. What would happen if you worked 8 hours a day or zero? What would change if you became a famous musician or a loser? First of all, accept and forgive yourself, love yourself. Enjoy the life. If you want to be a musician you need to work hard, maybe 8 hours a day, but also your body (you) need other things; spending time with friends, intimacy, jokes, rest, sleep, hug etc. You are not a machine. And porn really drains you, you don't feel like do anything. It is a very bad addiction, break this habit.  brainbuddy application can help you. 

[Nahm]

@Damir Elezi yes. 

[Siim Land]

Discipline begins with the small things because the small things are the big things.

Start making your bed in the morning, clean your room, meditate, go for walks, exercise, journal, do something consistently every day, and you're making discipline a part of your self-image.

[Chrissy j]

Build a stronger vision that is so grand and motivating you'll do the work. Why are you doing this in the first place? 

[Visitor]

@Damir Elezi What is your goal?

I love cycling, but without a goal I was cycling nowhere (beside going places). Then I tried racing, and that created a goal, to win races. So I started to find more time for training. I started to go up in cycling grades and then I stopped progressing. I had to change my goal again. This time it was Masters Championships, and found more time for training like a champion. All I did was train, work, eat and sleep. Nothing else. I eventually raced in the World's Masters Road Cycling Championships in Austria.

Without a goal, there is no need.

[Epiphany_Inspired]

@Damir Elezi Although I am not at a stage to give you very much direction (see the other awesome answers above)...from my limited experience of learning through failure...what I can say is....those issues are not something you can bulldoze your way through with willpower alone...

the state of flow you experienced (forgetting break/ food/ pee) is likely where your focus should go....maybe get stoked like that more often? passion and enjoyment usually propel drive....

Leo told me that practices like concentration help with discipline....and I think everyone else has good points about goals to create drive, etc

[BjarkeT]

something that helped me was to work in the same hours(for example from 13 to 15 pm with breaks) but then when i am done i am done so i also have time to relax something else that helped me was to recognize that it will be a challenge to finish working the hours you set for yourself and then decide to finish it anyway

leo have a good post on it on hes blue print page

https://www.actualized.org/blueprint/block-time

kind regards