Discipline: The Actions You Take When No One Is Watching
We often admire discipline in others, the early riser, the consistent athlete, the person who always seems to have their life together. But real discipline isn’t a performance for others. True discipline is what we do when no one is watching.
In my gym, I have a phrase written on the wall:
"We are the sum of our actions that we do when no one is watching."
It’s a simple, yet powerful reminder. The way we approach even the smallest things, a workout, a healthy meal, a meditation, reflects how we approach life as a whole. As another guiding principle reminds me:
"The way you do anything is the way you do everything."
Consistency over intensity is what matters. Showing up daily, even on the days we don’t feel like it, compounds into long-term results.
Discipline Wins the War
Jocko Willink says: “Discipline wins the war.” He’s not just talking about the physical war, he’s referencing the mental and emotional battles we fight every day. Discipline in our actions, in the choices we make even when it’s inconvenient or uncomfortable, determines who we become and the results we achieve.
Showing up to meditate, breathe, exercise, or choose the healthier option when the easier choice is staring us in the face is the practice of self-discipline. These small, seemingly insignificant actions create the momentum for larger victories. Over time, even a 1% shift each day compounds into life-changing results.
Discipline Builds Your Foundation
In our previous post, we explored the idea of foundations, the daily habits, nutrition, movement, breathwork, and rest that support the life we want. Discipline is the bridge between intention and action.
It’s easy to have good intentions. It’s much harder to follow through when life gets hard, when motivation is low, or when no one is watching. These are the moments that matter most.
When can you discipline yourself to show up to a men’s circle even if you’re tired or emotionally drained?
When can you commit to a monthly breathwork session, even if life has been challenging?
When can you prioritise your self-care, put yourself first, and take the steps that build a stronger foundation for life?
These are the moments where discipline shapes the person you become, the life you create, and the foundation you stand on.
Small Actions, Big Results
Discipline isn’t about perfection. It’s about showing up consistently, making the right choice even when it’s hard, and trusting that small, daily actions compound over time.
1% more focus in your meditation
Choosing the healthy meal once instead of the convenient one
Showing up to your practice even when you feel unmotivated
These choices, made repeatedly, create long-term results, better health, greater resilience, stronger relationships, and a life designed on purpose rather than left to chance.
Reflect: What Are You Doing When No One Is Watching?
Discipline is the hidden engine of success, personal, professional, physical, and mental. It’s the quiet work that most people never see but that changes everything.
So, I ask you:
What are you doing when no one else is watching?
Where can you strengthen your self-discipline today? Which small action, taken consistently, will set the trajectory for the life you want to build?
Discipline doesn’t just create results, it creates you.
Chris