2024 has been a transformative one for me. Through my spiritual education and journey, I\u2019ve gained a deeper understanding of discipline, not as a relentless push to extremes but as a balanced approach that values effort and surrender. Even though I\u2019m still struggling with the surrender part, this meditation or post shows you how this perspective has reshaped how I view success, not just in fitness but in every area of life as a whole.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There’s a common modern mantra when it comes to chasing success\u2014whether in the gym, relationships, or life. If you aren\u2019t prepared to \u2018go hard\u2019, don\u2019t bother, or the good old \u2018Go Hard or Go Home.” And while intensity has its place, relying solely on 100% effort daily isn\u2019t sustainable. Burnout becomes inevitable, progress stalls, and you\u2019re left questioning if the sacrifice was worth it. Something the bible or a lot of the good philosophers teach us. Even Leonardo Da Vinci is known to have said, \u2018Men of Genius sometimes work best when they work least.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So here is the honest truth, and something I like to say a lot these days: perfect practice makes permanent. We must slow down, embrace discipline over extremity, and prioritise skilful, intentional efforts to excel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After spending plenty of time in the Bible lately, I have learned a lot of lessons to apply to the everyday runnings of life. One main thing I have picked up is how the Bible beautifully illustrates the principle of patience and disciplined effort over extremes. Creation itself was a process\u2014a balance of work and rest. Genesis 2:2 reminds us, saying, \u201cBy the seventh day, God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even God\u2014the Creator of the universe\u2014demonstrated the need for rest amongst the big task of creation. Success wasn\u2019t about rushing or endlessly grinding but about intentional work followed by renewal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In strength and conditioning, daily pushing to 100% intensity leads to diminishing returns. You\u2019re exhausted, your form breaks down, and the risk of injury skyrockets. Even during the tough weeks of training, it is worth it. Instead, focusing on skill mastery\u2014breaking down movements, practising patience, and refining technique\u2014leads to long-term gains. Olympic lifters do this the best. They spend countless hours perfecting their technique with submaximal weights. Why? Because perfect form under less stress builds muscle memory, allowing them to succeed when the stakes are highest. Their discipline in practice leads to greatness on the platform. And all good athletes take Rest Days one to 2 times per week,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Intensity doesn\u2019t work in relationships, either. The initial spark of passion might feel thrilling, but sustaining a meaningful connection requires steady effort, patience, and intentionality. My wife, Madison, and I have been together for over 10 years. I always joke with people about how early in our relationship, I\u2019d stay up late and wake up early to be with her, running on the adrenaline of new love. But as years passed, I realised that true love isn\u2019t about burning the candle at both ends. Good luck getting me to stay up past 8 pm this day or giving up reading at 4 am for anything. These days, it is about showing up daily with discipline\u2014being present, intentional, and consistent. That\u2019s what builds a lasting bond. Not early-morning or late-night entertainment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The biggest thing worth learning here is that Success Takes Time; you must be willing to Embrace the Journey. Whether fitness, relationships, or personal growth, the key to success is embracing the journey. Just as Jesus endured suffering before the resurrection, our paths to rebirth and renewal often come with discomfort. But through discipline, patience, and faithful practice, success becomes inevitable. Hebrews 12:11 puts it perfectly: \u201cNo discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those trained by it. \u201dDiscipline doesn\u2019t just apply to the gym; it\u2019s a principle for life. By focusing on small, deliberate steps, we build the foundation for lasting success.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This past year, through my spiritual education and journey, I\u2019ve deepened my understanding of discipline. One of the most profound lessons has been recognising the balance between effort and surrender. Faith teaches us that while action is necessary, so is patience. It\u2019s not about forcing outcomes but trusting in the process while staying consistent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019ve learned that discipline reflects faith\u2014faith in ourselves, others, and the bigger picture. Whether it\u2019s the discipline to refine skills in the gym, communicate better in relationships, or stay steadfast in spiritual growth, it all comes back to intentional, perfect practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
By viewing it this way, I\u2019ve also come to appreciate rest as an essential part of creation (again, I’m still working on this). However, realising it\u2019s not a break from progress but a part of it has helped me approach challenges with greater patience and resilience, knowing that every effort\u2014no matter how small\u2014is part of a bigger plan, and really passing this information on when people want a bigger, more substantial answer to how to achieve more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But also another example of patience is the Bible’s constant reference to a time frame of 40. The Israelites’ journey through the wilderness lasted 40 years (Deuteronomy 8:2-3). Jesus fasted for 40 days and took 40 days to return after his death; other New and Old Testament stories refer to a time frame of 40. This period wasn\u2019t about aimless wandering; it was a time of preparation, learning, and a reliance on faith in God. \u00a0These references and experiences teach us that transformation requires sacrifice, patience, and endurance. It\u2019s not about sprinting but steadily moving forward with purpose over more time than expected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So here are some Practical Steps for including Patience and Perfect Practice into your routine:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Success isn\u2019t about going 100% all the time. I know we hear it from David Goggins, the stories about Elon Musk, and many more, but for the majority, it is about steady, intentional progress\u2014building strength, skill, and resilience through perfect practice. Whether you\u2019re lifting weights, nurturing relationships, or pursuing personal growth, the principles of discipline, patience, and balance will always trump extremes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As Philippians 4:13 reminds us, \u201cI can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.\u201d But even this strength is built over time through faithful and disciplined effort. So slow down, breathe, and commit to the process. True success is worth the wait. So slow down, practise, be patient, and Become Extraordinary.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
2024 has been a transformative one for me. Through my spiritual education and journey, I\u2019ve gained a deeper understanding of discipline, not as a relentless push to extremes but as a balanced approach that values effort and surrender. Even though I\u2019m still struggling with the surrender part, this meditation or post shows you how this […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"off","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-506","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vassesc.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/506","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vassesc.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vassesc.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vassesc.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vassesc.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=506"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/vassesc.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/506\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":507,"href":"https:\/\/vassesc.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/506\/revisions\/507"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vassesc.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=506"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vassesc.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=506"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vassesc.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=506"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}