Discipline Contentment Detachment Balance.
Discipline.
When people hear discipline, they hear army. they hear the intensity and waking up at 4 a.m., going crazy with a workout. I define my definition of the discipline of a samurai. Being in the moment and being present and practicing your art… your zen. When you break down discipline, all you really need is rules and routines. It’s actually such a simple idea but to really bring it to life and execute it requires real discipline and drive.
Write it down.
Write down something. Feel it and know what your power is to get there. It could be a dream, a goal, a desire in life. our internal conceptions about willpower and self-control can determine how disciplined we are. If you can remove these subconscious obstacles and truly believe you can do it, then you will give yourself an extra boost of motivation toward making those goals a reality.
Starting is not easy
We struggle with starting due to many things, but the biggest by far is fear. Fear of failing at whatever it is we desire to do keeps us stuck at the starting line. And sometimes this fear has already driven us to make a prediction that we will fail, so why bother starting? I remember when I was scouted to model. I had no skills, aspirations, or goals in this field. I did not even know where to start… as a young girl, I always had a weird lingering dream about being a model but I never thought it would be a reality, so I simply put it away in my subconscious as a pipe dream. When I was repeatedly scouted for my height, lanky limbs, and “look”, I felt a sense of imposter syndrome - “Me? a model?!” Even my teammates could not take me seriously. So I failed to start. It wasn't until someone really pushed me past my limits, taught me how to walk, pose, and present myself that I truly Started. After this, my fire was lit and I began many more beginnings all by myself.
The best way to start is to start small
if you start small build the tension and get used to the new routines, new ways of living, and moving, you will be on your way to improvement and passion. When you begin to model, you are considered a “new face” meaning you have little to no portfolio and are still learning the craft. This was intimidating to me at first but in hindsight, I should have taken it as an opportunity to learn and start. I was intimidated that I might look inexperienced, and appear as if I lack the expertise needed to succeed in this industry. This period was my biggest learning lesson. If I were to go back, I would have embraced the mistakes and the learning of it all. Being new is beautiful, it is impressionable, and it tests your resilience and desire to persevere. Naturally, I fell into learning and perfecting my craft. Each photoshoot became more comfortable and slowly, I began to form my own style and persona in front of the camera. My start was my most exciting season
The blank page is always the hardest but once you start wiring it flows… Just like writing, it can be daunting to stare at a blank page, a whole beginning of something that could be great or could go opposite to plan. However, once you begin to write and begin to try, something happens, and you are left with a page or maybe even a book. I like to believe that my being scouted as a young model was my blank page, the second page was a bit of a rough draft and I completely scrapped the first page. I fell into toxic habits, vanity, and an idea of what others wanted me to be. Once I realized I could write my own story, I started again, re-entered this industry and wrote my own story, a book that is not finished yet. So many of us get caught up in starting over again but it is not a sign of failure, it is a sign of redirection. I am now modelling the way I want, I am who I want, and my story is quite beautiful. Being able to be free with my body, travel the world, meet beautiful cultures, none of this would have happened if I never started writing my journey.
If you start with routines and rules, you will avoid burnout and build discipline. It is easy for me to sit here and preach following your dreams without admitting that discipline is essential. Try to avoid distractions when you begin to develop your self-discipline. Make it harder to engage in the activity you're trying to avoid. It's important to reward yourself when you experience success. Celebrating your accomplishments will keep things fun, and strengthen your resolve to keep going. Becoming successful as an Indian model was my dream and I knew that to get there, I had to cut distractions, work hard, and
not let minor set-backs discourage me. Discipline can empower you to overcome obstacles and setbacks and enable you to persist even when the going gets tough. Ultimately, self-discipline can help you to transform your dreams into reality. It will help you to navigate the path toward your goals with dedication, resilience, and a strong purpose. Even now, I find myself disciplining myself to not go out the night before a show, to work hard at being healthy, and to practice contentment and gratitude in periods of heavy work and busy days. I know that this mindset will get me further as it has gotten me here.
Lack of motivation can become habitual when you say “I’ll do it tomorrow,” or “It’s not that big of a deal,” don’t spend your time on negotiations with yourself, just do it, and think about it later. Always remind yourself WHY you are doing it in the first place. For me, I got caught up in the imposter syndrome and the large beast that is the modelling industry. I let the fear of being inadequate stop me from trying. When I shed this judgment, I began to free myself from procrastination and comparison. It’s cliché but if you never try, you’ll never know. So you can choose to be a statistic or f***ing try.
“Imposter syndrome can be defined as a collection of feelings of inadequacy that persist despite evident success. ‘Imposters’ suffer from chronic self-doubt and a sense of intellectual fraudulence that override any feelings of success or external proof of their competence.”
Most successful people witness periods of imposter syndrome. It’s so refreshing to hear that even people who are objectively successful feel like imposters. As a model, it’s easy to compare myself to other models on social media which leads to these feelings of envy and lack of worth. However, we all have our own paths and stories, one’s that are so much deeper than highlight reels and stories of success. Models who clearly have been doing this for years and years and years. I then remind myself that it’s simply an unfair comparison and comparison is the thief of joy.
Here are three quick and simple practices I’ve developed to recenter and regroup.
1. I open my gratitude journal (an instant mood booster).
2. I keep a log of my monthly successes as quick reminders that I’m constantly making progress.
3. I recite positive affirmations which are easily accessible on my desktop, my screensaver, and my soul.
4. I create more goals.
5. I focus on a feeling.
This photo was taken at a moment of contentment in my life. A space where I was so grateful for my career, family, and friends. However, I knew I was here because of my discipline and hard work. I felt as if I was a warrior pushing for more but protecting what I already had.
YOU have the power to shift your mind and build your discipline. You are capable.
Discipline involves establishing rules or standards that guide your actions and thoughts, while contentment is being happy and satisfied with what you have. I believe that we need a balance of both. Gratitude is essential but pushing for more is what keeps our souls on fire. I aspire to practice gratitude every day while pushing for my greatest potential.
