I rewrote this a couple of times. I wanted to talk about discipline and how it can mean many things.
I decided to write it as a letter — an open letter — because I think there are a lot of people out there who might benefit from hearing a word of support when things are tough. To be honest, I also want this to be something my kids can come back to if they ever need it.
I’m writing it for myself, too — for the version of me who would have needed it awhile ago and wished he could read something like this.
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You got this.
You might be waking up today defeated because you tried, and it didn’t go like you wanted.
You really tried. You are trying every day — at work, at home.
You are trying to be the best version of yourself. But everywhere around you is a message that maybe you just don’t have it.
You get back home tired, and your kids want to play, and you try, and you play, and yet you feel like you couldn’t give your best.
You try to be there, you really do, but your head is in outer space, figuring out how to keep providing while being present. And you get upset because you are not being present.
And you see social media, and social media tells you that you should be hustling.
Because it’s so easy. Because you just have to do it.
And you wonder what you did wrong. Why do others have it figured out?
Was this the right path? What am I doing with my life?
The thing is that we like to see the glass half empty because seeing it half full requires thinking, and thinking is hard right now.
So let me remind you.
What you are not seeing is that you are trying. And trying is already progress, so look, keep trying. And you are figuring things out; it’s just taking time.
What you are not seeing is that you are trying to get better, that what you see on social media is a snapshot of a questionable success.
What you are not seeing is that your kids are looking at you and loving you because you are playing with them even if you are tired. Because you care.
You are doing it. You are moving.
Not all is lost.
You hear that fit bro who claims out loud that if you don’t follow his routine, you are a loser.
That you are not disciplined.
You think about ways of finding time to do things, but it is hard sometimes.
You wonder if it’s your brain that needs to start operating better. You wonder if you are the problem.
I want you to hold tight. I want you to keep moving.
What you are not seeing is that you treat your kids with love, you are patient and kind, and that in itself is an act of discipline.
Falling is not optional, but getting up and keeping going is a choice. And you are taking it, every day.
Discipline is not only about making things happen. That matters. But it is also about what you do when your instincts kick in, when emotions take the lead, and when you have to choose between what is easy and what you believe in.
Choose coherence. Never forget where you are going, or what the path is.
There is no point in reaching the top if you are going to lose yourself in the process.
Don’t forget your principles, and in every step, make sure you return.
Because you are not a loser, you are not broken.
Because you are human, and as a human you have to be compassionate with yourself.
Because that compassion will take you far, and will keep you grounded.
You don’t need something big to follow, just yourself.
You got this, and don’t dare to forget it.
— Camilo
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