In this Podcast transcript, Chris explores the importance of discipline and commitment in achieving long-term success, emphasising that routines and schedules help manage feelings, which can make actions unpredictable. The speaker shares personal anecdotes, including racing a Mark 1 Cortina and the disciplined training of an Olympian, highlighting how unchecked feelings can derail ambitions and lead to regret. They stress the necessity of maintaining commitments despite fluctuating emotions to prevent short-term feelings from impacting long-term results. The final section reinforces this message by noting that feelings should not dominate actions, and the speaker concludes with a reflection on the beauty of consistency and commitment.

Introduction

Good morning, good afternoon, wherever you are. Today, we’re up here on a perfectly calm day, hardly a breath of wind. It’s freezing cold, but we’re on Ben Buckler again at my office. Today, we’re going to discuss feelings. Feelings, nothing more than feelings, trying to forget my feelings of love. Okay, Walker, don’t give up your day job.

The Role of Goals, Routines, and Discipline

We advocate for goals, routines, disciplines, schedules, time management, and commitments not because they make you more productive. Productivity is subjective and varies from person to person. A person who manages their time and a person who doesn’t will experience time differently. A person who has goals will experience life differently compared to someone who doesn’t. However, the presence of goals, whether written down or not, creates a commitment that influences one’s actions and outcomes.

Feelings vs. Discipline

Why are these disciplines advocated so frequently? The answer is feelings. When feelings dictate your actions, you become unpredictable, unreliable, and often disenchanted. You might want to be married one day and not the next, but a contract holds you bound. You might want to go to the gym one day and not the next, but your self-commitment keeps you going. Feelings of anger, love, frustration, and joy come and go, but contracts and commitments provide stability.

The Impact of Feelings on Behaviour

Dealing with varied feelings can be complicated. If feelings dictate behaviour, it becomes challenging to rationalise actions. This was evident in my life when I was part of a university car club racing a Mark 1 Cortina. Despite my discipline, investment, and practice, feelings of frustration and disappointment took over. On one occasion, my feelings overshadowed my discipline, leading to a humiliating experience in a rally race where I left the handbrake on for the entire circuit. This incident revealed that despite my commitment, deep down, I was just play-acting as a racer.

The Consequence of Allowing Feelings to Overpower Discipline

Feelings of humiliation, disappointment, and embarrassment can overwhelm discipline and commitment. This realisation led to the end of my racing ambitions. The car that once symbolised my dreams became a reminder of my failures and eventually went to the rubbish. It’s crucial to understand that while feelings can motivate actions, they can also derail long-term goals if not managed properly.

The Importance of Managing Feelings for Long-Term Success

Feelings are your best friend when they align with your goals. If you feel good about something, you’ll do more of it. If you feel bad, you’ll do less. Discipline, schedules, and commitments help prevent short-term feelings from influencing long-term results. During my racing career, despite many embarrassing moments, discipline kept me going. However, when feelings became too overwhelming, they usurped my ambitions and led to my eventual withdrawal from racing.

The Story of an Olympian: Discipline vs. Feelings

A friend of mine, an Olympian who competed in the Los Angeles Olympics in a K1 kayak, exemplified the power of discipline. For four years, he trained tirelessly, rarely missing a session. His discipline led him to the final in the K4 event. However, leading up to the Sydney Olympics, feelings of comfort and entitlement led him to miss more training sessions. Ultimately, he missed selection by one-thousandth of a second, a tiny margin he attributed to those missed training days.

Lessons Learned from the Olympian’s Journey

Despite his rigorous discipline, his feelings eventually overshadowed his commitment. After missing the Sydney Olympics, he struggled with regret and discontent, realising that his feelings had dominated his discipline. This story highlights the delicate balance between feelings and discipline. While feelings can provide short-term satisfaction, discipline ensures long-term success.

Feelings will always fluctuate, but discipline provides a steady foundation. Committing to goals, routines, and schedules helps manage feelings’ unpredictable nature. As we navigate our personal and professional lives, recognising the power of discipline over transient feelings is crucial for achieving lasting success.

Holding Fast to Commitments

One of the core tenets of coaching is the importance of maintaining your commitments to yourself. These disciplines, such as getting up early, rain, hail, or shine, going for a walk, writing your daily reflections, or taking a moment to appreciate and capture the beauty around you, are vital. These commitments should not be overridden by fleeting feelings. When feelings start to dominate your actions, they become the primary determinant of whether you are doing well or not. This can lead to inconsistency and instability in your efforts and outcomes. Feelings are transient and can change rapidly, but commitments and disciplines provide a stable foundation for long-term success.The Challenge of Balancing Feelings and Discipline

As I sit here at Ben Buckler, looking out at the ocean, I notice an animal surfacing and diving. It appears to be a baby whale or a large seal, behaving in a way that is both fascinating and mysterious. Observing this creature reminds me of the beauty and unpredictability of nature, much like our own feelings.The discipline to come here every day, regardless of how I feel, is a testament to the importance of commitment. It is a practice that keeps me grounded and focused, even when feelings might suggest otherwise.Conclusion

Feelings are an integral part of our human experience, but they should not dictate our actions and decisions. Maintaining discipline and honouring the commitments we make to ourselves is crucial for achieving long-term success and personal growth. By balancing feelings with steadfast discipline, we can navigate the challenges and uncertainties of life with resilience and consistency. This is Chris Walker. You have a beautiful day. Love you all. Bye for now.


Thanks for tuning in to ‘The Anti-Guru Guru Show.’ If you enjoyed this post, share it with a friend who needs a reality check. Until next time, keep it real, keep it messy, and keep practising. See you soon!