What if real freedom doesn’t come from doing whatever you want — but doing what needs to be done? Discipline isn’t about restriction. It’s about freedom. Discipline isn’t the enemy of freedom. It’s the path to it.
Most people think freedom is the ability to do whatever they want, but real freedom comes from discipline. The phrase of discipline equals free freedom was popularized by former Navy SEAL Jocko Willink. Choose one area of your life where applying more discipline could create more freedom.
In the spirit of the theme for July being freedom, I wanted to talk about something I'm super passionate about. And it might be surprising to you, but I'm going to connect the concept of discipline and how that directly relates to how much freedom you have. Most people think freedom is the ability to do whatever they want, but real freedom comes from discipline. And I'm going to explain why. Because if you're like me, you might be shocked to hear that it all comes down to a simple phrase of discipline equals free freedom.
And this phrase was made and popularized by a guy named Jocko Willink. He's a former Navy SEAL who's an author, a podcaster. He now operates his own leadership consulting company. And I am especially passionate about this phrase, discipline equals freedom, because I remember reading Jocko Willink's book called Extreme Ownership back when I was in probably mid to late college. And I love the phrase so much, it resonated with me that it actually became my first tattoo. So I have it right here on my chest to keep it appropriate with Cadre.
I'm not gonna do this video shirtless and I don't think I ever will. But regardless, I'm super passionate about the phrase. So what is discipline? We all have heard the term before. I like to think about it as your commitment to systems, routines and habits. And that structure within discipline creates long term freedom to live how you want. Again, common belief might be that freedom means no rules, no no restrictions. So that means that that's the opposite of discipline. Well, actually this belief, freedom being no rules, no restrictions, can actually hurt you and lead to less freedom in the long term.
It can lead to procrastination, stress, poor health, missing your goals. For example, oh, if I skip my workout today, that means more freedom until you lose mobility later in your life and you can't play with your grandchildren. That doesn't sound very free. So what this looks like in different contexts is kind of could be time management. Your discipline in planning your schedule gives you freedom from last minute stress and cramming. Your discipline in health and fitness in your workouts and your diet gives you freedom to move, to perform and feel better.
Discipline in my personal favorite in finances, if you're disciplined in how you budget, spend and save money, you now have freedom to travel, invest, take risks, purchase the things that you want or the time or vacations that you want. If you're disciplined with how you handle yourself mentally and emotionally, meaning how you talk to yourself, the routines that you have, the boundaries and self care that you set in place that gives you freedom from burnout, from guilt, feeling overwhelmed. This simple phrase can apply to pretty much any domain of life, which is a big reason why it resonated with me so much, why I chose to have it inked on my chest as my first tattoo.
Not saying you have to go out and get a tattoo of discipline equals freedom on your on your back or your chest or wherever. But what I am asking you to do is to choose one area of your life where applying more discipline could create more freedom. And I guarantee that it will. You don't need to be perfect, you just need to be consistent. Discipline is not this concept of a prison with restrictions. In fact, in the long term, it unlocks freedom for you. So just remember, discipline equals freedom.
