What You Want Most

I recently saw Craig Groeschel conduct an interview. In the interview, he made the statement: “Discipline is choosing what you want most over what you want now.” As soon as I heard the statement, it immediately resonated within my soul.

Over the past several weeks, I have made some lifestyle choices to consciously make me healthier in my spiritual and physical life. Early in January, I woke up bright-eyed nearly two hours before my alarm was set to go off. My house was quiet, not even the cat was moving. I crept to the kitchen, brewed a cup of coffee and sat down at the kitchen table and began studying the Bible. It was such a nice, peaceful, restorative time. As the time came for my family to start getting up, I brewed my wife and my 16 year old their own cups of coffee. I delivered the cups to their rooms as they awoke. I was able to help pack lunches and get the family going for the day. It was amazing. Over the last several weeks, I have repeated the pattern. (The ladies do not always get coffee; they’ve had the opportunity to sleep in more recently due to weather.)

This year I also started working with two different personal trainers at Bob’s Gym. Together they are pushing my body to work in new and different ways. It is not always easy, but its effective. On my own, I’ve added in the discipline of cardio exercises several days a week. I can promise you that there are times at the end of my training sessions or cardio workouts that I am worn down, exhausted. Yet it is worth it.

I’ve been trading off a couple hours of rest for a more consistent, fruitful personal quiet time. I’ve traded off some squats, lunges and deadlifts for greater strength and mobility. I’ve traded sweat for a few less pounds and better heart health. Groeschel’s statement is absolutely spot-on. “Discipline is choosing what you want most over what you want now.”

Where have you made the choice to choose what you want most over what you want now?

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A Special Opportunity to Learn: The Global Leadership Summit has been a summer learning staple in my own personal life for many years. This year, they have a half-day, special edition on Thursday, February 25. During the event, you will get a chance to learn from great leaders like Groeschel, Patrick Lencioni, Jerry Lorenzo, and Vanessa Van Edwards. To register or more information, simply click here.