July 22, 2022

Motivation vs. Discipline

People seem to use these two words interchangeably. We know that both motivation and discipline hold the keys to achieving something we want, but is there a difference between the two? Absolutely.

Let us get the actual definitions clear, so we know what we are talking about.

Discipline: (verb) train oneself to do something in a controlled and habitual way.

Motivation: (noun) a reason or reasons for acting or behaving in a particular way, or the desire or willingness to do something; enthusiasm.

The Difference Between the Two

Motivation is a great kick-starter when it comes to inspiring you to make a change in your life.

That rush of newly found energy and enthusiasm will make the laziest person get off their butt and do something. There’s just one problem. Motivation is often short-lived.

It will get you going to the gym on the 1st of January, but it most likely won't keep you going until August. We are so used to instant gratification that not achieving a goal fast enough will kill most of our motivation.

On the other hand, discipline is much harder to cultivate than motivation.

Discipline is boring, you don't get a dopamine hit, and it's not as romanticized as its short-lived brother. It has to be built with a lot of effort. And while it won't get you to the gym on the first day of the year, it will keep you coming back in the future.

It would be great if we could rely on motivation for accomplishing anything in life, but life would be too easy that way, right?

Bridging The Gap

Motivation is awesome; it exists with a purpose. It forces us to act, steer toward our goals, and feel like we're in control. Motivation is necessary, but so is discipline. Being that it's basically motivations' boring cousin, people don't talk about it as much.

While motivation will fade after some time, discipline will continue to grow. While motivation describes an event, discipline describes a lifestyle.

Achieving anything worthwhile takes a lot of time. The only way to actually achieve it is by staying consistent and diligent. Discipline is precisely that. The small and large tasks you do daily, the productive habits you form, everything you do on this road to success.

It’s just like sculpting a beautiful statue. You need to chisel the block of marble a thousand times before it starts becoming the statue that hides underneath. Motivation will get you to start carving out something beautiful, but discipline will keep you going.

Willpower and Habit-Forming

Since discipline depends almost entirely on habit-forming and willpower, it's crucial to know how they work.

In this context, willpower is basically the ability to resist short-term temptations and urges in order to achieve your long-term goals.

Dr. Roy Baumeister found out that our willpower can be depleted. His theory says that tasks that make us use our ability to resist urges and/or get things done when we don't want to do them fatigue our "willpower muscle" and make it harder to use it again after that.

Thankfully, willpower can be exercised by regularly using it with diligence.

Habit-forming has been studied for a while now, and there are many books you can pick up to learn about it. “Atomic Habits” and “The Power of Habit” are the first ones that come to mind.

The topic of habit-forming is way too complex to be explained in this short article, but the books mentioned above, along with James Clear’s blog, are a great way to get started.

Conclusion

We need the motivation to get going, and we need the discipline to get there.

Start by cutting your grand goal into bite-sized goals. That way, you can get a bit of motivation after every small win you gather and fortify your discipline.

Try to never skip the habit you want to form. For example, if your goal is to read every day, on that one day that you don't get the time to read 10 or 20 pages, read at least one. It will keep your streak going, which matters the most.

Continually rethink your goals and your planned process of getting there.

Being disciplined isn't fancy. It's a long and troublesome road, but the journey is well worth it.

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When Average Training Habits Limit Your Progress

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A Guide from a Personal Trainer in Nashville Functional training originally focused on improving real-life movement patterns like lifting, climbing, and carrying. Today, however, the term is often misused. In this guide, Coach Jim—a leading personal trainer in Nashville —breaks down what functional training really means, clears up common myths, and shows you how to build workouts that truly improve strength, mobility, and everyday performance. The Real Origins of Functional Training Functional training started in rehabilitation settings. Physical therapists needed to help patients regain the ability to perform daily tasks—getting up from chairs, climbing stairs, carrying groceries—safely and independently. From there, the concept moved into strength and conditioning , especially for athletes. Coaches began designing programs that mimicked the movements, speeds, and forces encountered in sport, believing that exercises should reflect the demands athletes face outside the gym. It made sense: real-world movement is multi-planar, integrated, and often performed under load or fatigue. Training that mirrors those challenges better prepares people for life outside the gym—a philosophy I bring to my personal training Nashville programs. Where It Went Wrong Fast forward to today, and "functional training" is so watered down it’s almost meaningless. You'll hear it attached to bootcamps, TikTok trends, and group fitness classes that may or may not have any real connection to improving real-life function . Here’s the problem: ➔ Functional for whom? ➔ Functional for what purpose? A competitive powerlifter needs a different kind of "functional" than a 70-year-old wanting to garden pain-free. A baseball pitcher needs different movement skills than a new mom recovering from back pain. Without context, "functional training" becomes vague, subjective, and often misleading—even for people searching for fitness training in Nashville today. Principles Over Buzzwords Rather than asking is this functional training?, it’s better to ask: Does this follow good training principles? Here’s what matters: Specificity: Does it target the movement patterns, energy systems, and qualities the person needs? Transferability: Will the adaptations carry over to real-world tasks, sports, or injury resilience? Progressive Overload: Is it challenging enough to promote strength and adaptation over time? Movement Quality: Does it reinforce good mechanics, posture, and control? Individualization: Is it tailored to the person’s needs, abilities, and goals? If a program checks these boxes, it's functional —no matter what it’s called. This is the exact approach I use with my Nashville personal training clients —focusing on principles that deliver real-world results, not gimmicks. Common Misconceptions About Functional Training Let’s clear up a few myths that still float around: Myth #1: Machines aren’t functional. Machines can be incredibly useful, especially for early rehab or hypertrophy-focused phases. They allow targeted loading without high stability demands—which can support real-world function depending on how they’re used. Myth #2: More instability = more function. Training on BOSU balls and wobble boards has its place (think ankle rehab or proprioception drills). But constantly destabilizing exercises? Not necessary. Most life (and sports) happens on stable ground. Stable surfaces allow better loading, strength gains, and neuromuscular coordination—what I emphasize in all my personal training Nashville TN programs. Myth #3: Functional training avoids heavy lifting. Quite the opposite. Functional training often involves lifting heavy—because strength matters for almost everyone. Farmers need grip strength. Athletes need power. Older adults need the ability to carry groceries or get off the floor. Load isn’t the problem. Poor application is. So, Should We Keep the Term "Functional Training"? The term can still have value—if it's clearly defined and applied correctly. At its best, it reminds us that training should serve a purpose beyond just aesthetics. It emphasizes integrated movement patterns, core control, joint stability, and real-world carryover—principles central to Nashville fitness training done the right way. But without that context? It's just another buzzword. The smarter move: Zoom in on function for the individual. A mother managing back pain needs different patterns than a CrossFitter chasing PRs. A retiree rehabbing a knee needs different strength work than a semi-pro athlete. Good training doesn’t chase trends. It meets the person where they are—and builds from there. Final Thoughts Functional training started with a powerful goal: ➔ Help people move better , live better , and perform better . But over time, its meaning has been blurred by trends, marketing, and misapplication. Today, smart training isn’t about chasing trends. It's about asking better questions: Is this training functional for the client’s real-world needs?