Discipline Equals Freedom: Rules For Kicking A$$ In Life
February 09, 2025
"Discipline Equals Freedom." You’ve probably heard this from retired Navy SEAL Jocko Willink, but it’s a truth that goes back much further. My own instructor, Dr. Masaaki Hatsumi, passed this lesson on to me over thirty years ago. It stuck with me then, and it still holds true today.
At first, it sounds like a contradiction. How can discipline—rules, structure, and routine—lead to freedom? But think about it. When you’re disciplined, you take control. You stop wasting time on distractions and focus on what really matters. You get things done. And when you get things done, you create more time and energy for the things you love.
Discipline isn’t about grinding yourself into the ground. It’s about working smarter, not just harder. And that applies in the gym, at work, and in life.
Here are 10 Rules for Kicking A$$ in Life:
- See failure as a beginning, not an end. Every mistake is a lesson. Learn and move forward.
- If you don’t go after it, you won’t get it. No one is handing out success. Take action.
- Always do more than expected. Effort separates the great from the average.
- Teach others what you know. Passing on knowledge makes you better, too.
- Assume nothing. Question everything. Stay curious and keep learning.
- Make peace with your past. Carrying old baggage slows you down.
- Stop overthinking. Start doing. Action beats endless planning.
- Never compare yourself to others. Run your own race.
- Consistency beats intensity. Show up every day, even when you don’t feel like it.
- CANEI: Constant And Never-Ending Improvement. The key to success in any environment.
Apply these rules, and you’ll see results—not just in your training, but in every aspect of your life. Freedom isn’t given. It’s earned through discipline.
Now, go get after it!