“Discipline Begins Every Day When the First Alarm Goes Off.”
Developing discipline is all about doing the little things right. Small wins can set the tone for your day, including the very first moment the alarm goes off.
It can be tempting to hit the snooze button in the morning, especially when nothing makes you wake up during this time. This is a defining moment that can determine the entire outcome of your day, so you can use it as an opportunity to train your discipline. Jocko Willink, a retired former US Navy SEAL and author of Extreme Ownership: How Navy SEALs Lead and Win , explains:
Discipline begins every day when the first alarm goes off in the morning. I say “the first alarm clock” because I have three of them … So there is no excuse for not getting out of bed, especially with everything related to this defining moment … The moment the alarm goes off is the first test ; he sets the tone for the rest of the day. The test is simple: when the alarm goes off, do you get out of bed or go to bed comfortably and fall asleep again? If you have the discipline to get out of bed, you win — you will pass the test. If you are mentally weak at this point and allow this weakness to hold you in bed, you will fail. While this seems insignificant, this weakness leads to more important decisions. But if you exercise discipline, it will also reflect on the more essential elements of your life.
It may seem inconsequential, but doing the little things right can lead to doing the big things right. Nothing makes you stand up except yourself. Make a statement and attack the day head on.
Extreme Possession: How US Seals Lead and Win | Amazon via Business Insider