Self-Discipline is a Unilateral Pursuit

Journal entry 10.21.2024

I talked about Self-Discipline in Freedom Without Self-Discipline is Slavery Here is more discussion on the subject.

works on paper - 2024-105 - 10.28.24 - 8.5 x 11 inches - ink and pencil on paper

At the beginning – and it is always the beginning - it can be hard to trust our interest in pursuing our creative impulses. The practical part of our mind will reject it. We must start by giving ourselves permission to go against the tension of this inertia that holds us in place. Pursuing a creative life means breaking out of comfortable patterns and establishing new ones.

At the same time, to take on one thing, other things have to sacrificed to accommodate for that. A person must decide what they are willing to commit to and what they are willing to let go of in order to achieve it. Focus and attention has its limits at any given time. While our peripheral vision can take in the whole sky, our focal vision can only see a small area with clarity. In the same way, there are many peripheral interests and activities in our lives but things we want to achieve must be accomplished with focus and persistence over a long period of time.

The committed pursuit of self-discipline can often seem like a daunting endeavor. Why impose rules upon oneself, why commit to a regimen? The answer lies in understanding what self-discipline truly is and the purpose it serves. If approached thoughtfully, discipline becomes a tool for self-mastery rather than a burden.

The word "discipline" originates from the Latin disciplina, meaning "instruction and training," and is rooted in discere, which translates to "to learn." This etymology reveals that discipline is fundamentally about education and growth, not self-punishment. It’s a commitment to holding oneself accountable—not to external authorities, but to one's own developing aspirations and self-established standards. Accountability, in this sense, requires taking responsibility for one’s own sense of rightness about one's actions, choices, and dedication to personal goals.

"It had long since come to my attention that people of accomplishment rarely sat back and let things happen to them. They went out and happened to things." - Leonardo da Vinci

In the context of the arts, this pursuit is inherently unilateral and self-driven. The artists are their own authorities. There are no awards, recognition, or accolades handed out by an overseeing body. Instead, the motivation must come from within. We must find our own ‘Why?’ and our own ‘What if?’ Once ignited, this internal questioning and drive should be nurtured through self-learning and self-training in the chosen field.

"Learn the rules like a pro, so you can break them like an artist." - Pablo Picasso

Discipline provides the foundation; mastery over one's craft allows for the freedom to innovate. This process involves continual practice, whether it’s painting, writing, or any other form of creative expression.

"When I'm in writing mode for a novel, I get up at 4 a.m. and work for five to six hours. I keep to this routine every day without variation." - Haruki Murakami

Art-making is a lifelong pursuit that requires dedication, regardless of external validation or recognition. The artist’s journey is marked by continuous cycles of learning and refining one's skills and knowing when to move on to the next thing. As Henri Matisse put it, "Creativity takes courage." This courage is built upon a disciplined approach to one's craft, embracing both the structure and the spontaneity that artistic growth demands and often letting go of known things to embrace a new unknown trail.

In essence, discipline in the arts is about cultivating the drive to learn, practice, and grow. It is not about being rigid or punitive but about being steadfast in the commitment to one’s own development. As artists, the goal is to shape our inner intuitive impulses and imagination into tangible expressions, using discipline as a means to unlock our fullest creative potential.