Why self-discipline is overrated and self-permission is key

It's no secret that self-discipline is essential for success. But what if I told you that self-discipline may actually be holding you back?

In this blog post, we'll discuss why self-discipline can be overrated and how you can overcome its limitations. We'll also explore the concept of self-permission and how it can help you achieve greater success in your business. So, if you're ready to achieve more than ever before, read on!

Self-discipline is often viewed as a necessary precursor to success.

It is an important factor in business and in life as it helps us STAY FOCUSED, SET GOALS and achieve them, and MAINTAIN PRODUCTIVITY. It is that voice that encourages us to push ourselves – even when we don't feel motivated or don't want to do something.

Self-discipline is such an invaluable tool for developing the habits of organisation, planning, and self-regulation which are all essential for success in any endeavor.

Although self-discipline is undeniably beneficial, it also comes with drawbacks.

People become so focused on achieving their goals that they forget to enjoy the journey or take risks along the way.

This can lead to a sense of rigidity and inflexibility, as well as a lack of spontaneity.

Self-discipline can also lead to perfectionism—the desire to complete every task perfectly without leaving room for mistakes—which can sometimes be detrimental if it results in too much stress or anxiety. Worse, it can result in burnout due to overworking or exhaustion from constantly pushing oneself too hard.

This is where self-permission steps in.

SELF-PERMISSION is the opposite of self-discipline—it is about allowing yourself to take risks, make mistakes, and enjoy the journey. Self-permission means that you can give yourself permission to explore different options for achieving your goals and be flexible in your approaches. It encourages creativity and innovation, and allows us to focus on what we enjoy doing instead of just on results.

Self-permission is particularly important when starting a business as it encourages taking risks and exploring new ideas without being afraid of failure. Unlike self-discipline which reinforces an "all or nothing" attitude, self-permission focuses on learning from mistakes and adjusting your approach as needed. This helps entrepreneurs remain motivated, even after setbacks and find solutions for problems more quickly than if they were relying solely on self-discipline. It also helps us stay motivated by focusing on our progress, instead of constantly striving for perfection.

So in the midst of an overwhelming "hustle culture",

How can we pivot to self-permission?

To practice self-permission, we must first learn to EMBRACE RISKS and make mistakes.

Self-permission is key in business, especially when it comes to taking risks and pushing the boundaries of what can be achieved. To achieve self-permission, entrepreneurs must first recognise their own strengths and weaknesses as well as understand the potential risks of certain decisions. This involves being honest with oneself about what one can reasonably accomplish, how much time and resources are needed to do so, and how much risk one can take on without compromising the success of the business.

Once entrepreneurs come to terms with this understanding, they must create a plan for achieving their goals. This could involve setting up actionable steps in order to reach those goals over a fixed period of time. It is important to be realistic about goal expectations in order to prevent feeling overwhelmed or discouraged if progress isn’t made quickly enough. Additionally, breaking down tasks into smaller achievable chunks makes it easier to stay motivated while making steady progress towards the bigger goal.

It is also important for entrepreneurs to STAY OPEN - MINDED in order to fully embrace self-permission and maximize business success. This involves being willing to experiment with different ideas and approaches even when there are no guarantees that these efforts will pay off right away. Taking calculated risks by exploring new ideas can help businesses innovate faster than if they were relying solely on self-discipline alone.

In addition, striving towards self-permission should mean being open to feedback from others without feeling overwhelmed or defeated by criticism; instead it should be seen as an opportunity for growth and learning from mistakes. Constructive criticism from peers in the industry or mentors can prove invaluable for adjusting one’s approach as needed when working towards business goals.

Finally, pivoting to self-permission should involve maintaining a POSITIVE MINDSET and of course, self-care. Taking regular breaks throughout the day helps recharge mentally and emotionally, which helps entrepreneurs stay productive no matter what challenges they face along the way.

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