On my very first day of training with my mentor, Sifu David Hatch, I noticed a sign he had up on his dry erase board stating “Discipline Hurts Less Than Regret.” After several hours of cross training in Jun Fan, Filipino martial arts, Silat, muay Thai and grappling; Sifu explained to me the importance of such a statement as we concluded our session with stretching.
“Discipline,” he said, “was the cornerstone attribute for accomplishing all that we wish to, as it prevented us from falling out of focus with our goals and mission. If one has the discipline to brush their teeth daily, dentures are not in their future. But a lax attitude towards such a simple and seemingly small task can lead to huge health risks later in life.”
As a college student in Michigan during the middle of winter it can be challenging to train. There were many days when I felt too tired, too sad or too lazy to make the sixty-minute drive to Canton to train with Sifu. Throw in a nice snowfall with a grueling day of classes and running home to a warm bed seemed so much more appealing.
I confess there were days where that’s exactly what happened.
However, there was many more days where I remembered Sifu’s lesson, got in my car and drove to our training sessions. Sometimes ready, sometimes not. Invariably I would leave such sessions feeling invigorated, having learned new skills and often putting in one or two more hours of shadowboxing or karenza at home.
In the years since, I have followed Sifu’s advice and have accomplished many good and worthwhile goals. I can also look back and clearly see the things I missed out on and the things I regret. It is crystal clear that the lesson was not always applied to my life.
It is easy to lament about what could have been had I only done this or that. But it is far more rewarding to put forth the efforts, no matter how big or small each day and look back not only with a profound sense of accomplishment but also with a goal fully realized.
Looking back at what might have been, what could have, or what should have been is painful and it never goes away. Looking daily in the mirror knowing that I did all I could do, suffered the pains of discipline when my have wanted to slack off is ultimately more rewarding.