The Discipline Trap and the Art of Starting Small
People think they need a 5-year plan or a grand "purpose" before starting something new, but that’s not true. We need to explore. It is like hiking in fog, where we can’t see the whole path, but we can always see the next few steps. We need to slow down, unpack it, and start with curiosity. Now I will not tell you things like "what excites you"; you need to ask yourself. I won't tell you that you need to start small, pick a medium, and start making small projects. I trust and assume that you already went through that.
Yet, I would like to talk about something I personally struggle with: the "Discipline Trap." I was the kind of person who wouldn't continue something I started. I was not disciplined. And there are a lot of people like me, and for them, I say start tiny. I know relying on willpower is fairly tough, but instead, rely on external triggers: keep a camera or your notebook somewhere visible to you. Get an accountability buddy. Set a 5–10-minute creative session at the same time daily. Even if you do almost nothing, consistency builds a habit.
Just like Rome was not built in a day, you will not find your passion in a day, week, or month. You should experiment first and evaluate later. After a specific period of experimenting, evaluate which activities felt calming and fun. The key is to collect data about yourself without any pressure.
Last but not least, track your reactions, not the outcome. Do not forget that you are just starting and starting tiny, so instead of productivity, track your feelings: did you feel curious? Were you relaxed, bored, or alive? The key is to figure out what creates tiny sparks, as they are the clues toward bigger engagement.
cheers,
meew
Licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
