Nowadays, social media wants us to believe that everything should come easy. And even more, if it’s not easy, it’s not “yours.” Move on. Try something else. Well, good luck living this way. Unless your emotional resilience is made of titanium, you’ll crash sooner than you think.

Here’s the truth: discipline is what makes things work. And no, it’s not something that stands in your way or steals your fun. Discipline actually protects you. It keeps you from burning out, from losing motivation, from giving up too soon.

As mothers, we see this every day. School is not only to teach our kids math and physics, but mostly to build discipline. I can argue if we should start it as early as we do, but that’s another looong topic, for later. Besides school, our children don’t learn patience, kindness, or even relationships overnight. They learn because we guide them through the small, steady steps, over and over again. Patiently. Gradually. That’s discipline, in its purest form.

Building Strength: My Personal Wake-Up Call

Two years ago, right before my 40th birthday, I read an article about age-related muscle loss. It hit me: I was lean and considered myself healthy, but I didn’t have a lot of muscle to spare. What worried me wasn’t abs or glutes, it was the deep inner muscles that hold our organs in place and keep everything functioning as they should. That was my wake-up call.

So I started small: 15 minutes of Pilates, 5 times a week.

Fifteen minutes is nothing when you scroll your phone, but exercising, it felt endless. I used no weights, just my own body. I didn’t let myself cheat — 5×15 was non-negotiable.

After six months, I added a sixth day. After a year, I increased to 20 minutes. Now, I’m on 25 minutes, six days a week, with 3 different weights, a Pilates ball, and stretching bands. This winter, I plan to reach 30 minutes, focusing on strength and flexibility.

I’m far from ripped, but on my good days I see my abs. But more importantly: I feel stronger, more toned, with more stamina. I feel my body serving me better, which means I can do more.

Discipline and The Food We Share

Exercise wasn’t the only place I noticed discipline changing me. I started paying attention to sugar — my biggest weakness. Two years ago, I was really hooked on chocolate chip cookies. Today, I still have cookies with my morning coffee, but only two whole-grain ones. And that’s it.

Cakes? I swapped them for a bowl of Greek yogurt with fruit and honey.

I was always skinny, and weight loss was not my thing. So Why? Because sugar fuels inflammation. And aging, in many ways, is inflammation: in our bodies, our organs, even our brains. If I can give up a few cookies for a few more clear, conscious years, it’s an easy yes.

And the side effect? My now-student daughter saw me making those swaps too, and now she, without me initiating it, asks me how to balance her diet and sends me meals she makes for herself. Without a word, it taught her that discipline around food isn’t about dieting or guilt — it’s about care and respect for your own body.

Discipline in Motherhood

Motherhood itself is the ultimate test of discipline. From teaching toddlers to brush their teeth to advising young adults on their sleep routine, nothing good and sustainable happens “just because.” We repeat, we guide, we show up again and again, and again.

The same way 15 minutes of Pilates adds up to strength, the small routines for our young adult – healthy food, water intake, bedtime schedule, partying frequency, studying routine, are what build their confidence and self esteem. Discipline doesn’t take the fun away; it gives the power and rewards after all.

Discipline in Business (and Everything Else)

Now let’s talk business. It might sound shocking, but there’s no easy money. No idea alone will grow your bank account. It’s not about a flash of inspiration; it’s about what you do with it, how consistent you are, and how you handle the hopeless days. And every business has those days.

Even influencers. You might hit the jackpot with a viral video, but then what? You’ll need a content calendar. You’ll need to post regularly. Some posts will flop after hours of effort. But you keep going. And when brands finally ask you to advertise something, the responsibility grows even bigger. Discipline is the only way through.

From my experience, whether it’s workouts, food, business, or parenting, it takes about three years to really see results.

Year 1: you’re excited but clueless, collecting data.

Year 2: you have enough experience to start improving.

Year 3: the fruits start showing. Or not. But here’s the fun part: even if you quit after those 3 years, you won’t leave empty-handed. You’ll carry new skills, knowledge, structure, and resilience, and you’ll start your next thing from a stronger, higher point.

What We Can Rely On

When we start something new, we all want to believe it’s our “next big thing.” And that belief gives us the adrenaline to take the first step. But after that, you can’t rely on excitement, luck, or timing. Those things fade.

What you can always rely on is discipline. Showing up. Doing the work. Staying the course.

That’s what motherhood teaches us too. It’s not about grand single gestures, but about the small, daily choices — the patience, the persistence, the love that keeps showing up, even when it’s hard.

And if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s this: discipline doesn’t take the joy away. It’s what makes joy last. In everything.