This is the final installment of a three part series about the unexpected places where we can find joy. Missed the first two posts? You can click here and here to get caught up!

I have probably wasted a good hour in avoidance of this blog post. (Since writing that line, I have wasted another good week finishing it.)

Sometimes, I can write a blog post where I am only talking to ya’ll.

Maybe I’ve been there and crossed that bridge and so I’m just talking to you about my experience or perhaps ways that I would have done something differently.

But then there are other times when I’m talking more to myself than anyone who will read it after I write it. Those are the hard posts.

The Joy Series have been hard posts to write because they have forced me to slow down and remember what is true not only in the lives of others, but in my life as well.

Isn’t it so funny how we can so easily give advice, but it is so hard to take it?

So today, friends I’m listening as much as I’m talking.

Because we talk.
We do at least in my mind.

The Problem

I really struggle with discipline and consistency.

A lot of people find that hard to believe but here’s the dirty little secret: You don’t always have to be disciplined at something for which you are naturally good.

Notice I didn’t say excellent.
I said good.

I’m not the only person for whom this is true. There is some area in your life where you do not have to put in maximum effort to achieve strong results.

And I’m not out here saying you’re a Cameron Diaz in Bad Teacher type of slacker…but if you’re honest with yourself your 7 might be someone else’s 10.

But I am realizing that I can’t keep living like Cameron Diaz in certain areas of my life and wanting Michelle Obama results.

It just ain’t gonna happen. So we have a few truths we (read me me me me me) need to keep at the front and center of our lives.

Being undisciplined hurts you more than the process of becoming disciplined.

Discipline hurts.
Sometimes a lot.

But what hurts more is going through life missing opportunities, experiences, and relationships because your lack of discipline impedes on the fullness of your life.

Scripture tells us, “No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening–it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way. Hebrews 12:11 NLT

A peaceful harvest.

That’s always been such a comfort to me. God promises after we go through what is necessary to reach our best self, we will be rewarded with a peaceful harvest.

Like after the discipline of the gym and a Krispy Kreme donut fast, I can have the peaceful harvest of abs.

You just have to decide what you want more.

Discipline asks the simple question, is what you want now what you want most?

Feelings Aren’t Facts

Myleik Teele did not coin this phrase, but she’s definitely someone I hear use it often. She’s the CEO of CurlBox and has so many gems about the professional hustle. If you’ve never listened to her podcast I would definitely recommend it!

But I think that when I first started using this phrase, it was more of a punishment than an affirmation. Like somehow God didn’t care about how I felt. He didn’t feel my discomfort nor did He want to know about it.

What was most important that I pushed past it all and just perform.

I know now nothing can be farther from the truth.
But reminders helpful.

It simply means my faith can’t waiver because of my feelings, it has to get stronger in spite of them. God is more concerned about the work that needs to be done in me than He is about what I want done for me.

That’s not a punishment, it’s a gift.

Discipline keeps you in your lane.

I find when I am looking up and around at what other people are doing–I’m missing out on fulfilling my assignment from God.

Right now, I feel hyper sensitive to friends and colleagues who are getting new jobs because it’s what I want so badly.

But my focus on their advancement does nothing for my own.

The homie Paul gives us specific instruction about this in Galatians 6:4 NLT:

“Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you wouldn’t need to compare yourself to anyone else.”

Discipline yourself to focus on what you’ve been called to do.
You might need to eliminated certain distractors out of your life for a season so you can be laser focused in your approach.

Discipline also reminds you for whom you are working.

I’m not working for likes, accolades or to be someone’s #goals. I’m working because there’s a burden on my heart–a need to help people through a particular set of skills which I possess.

Discipline requires action.

This one is the hardest–for me at least.

I feel as if I always have to have my life in order before I can work to get my life in order, if that makes sense.

I have to know all the workouts for the next month before I can go to the gym once.

Clean eating cannot start until I have all of the recipes determined for the next two weeks.

All computer files must organized before I can apply for the big job I have my eye on.

I have to work on those ungodly thoughts before I can regularly come to God in quiet time and prayer.

And those are all lies.

All excuses that are keeping me from doing what I know is necessary not only to get to the next stage of life, but also develop the discipline necessary for me to reap a peaceful harvest.

So here’s to just starting.

To not knowing it all, but knowing that consistency is key.

And remembering that a peaceful harvest can only come after we do the work…continuously.

There’s magic in our musings and our discipline,
Nicole