Discipline and resilience. These two words carry a lot of weight for me. They aren’t just concepts I talk about or principles I coach others through—they are my lifelines. They are the compass points that guide me through every decision, every obstacle, and every triumph. In life, we often find ourselves looking for some sort of map, a set of directions to help us make sense of the chaos around us. For me, discipline and resilience have become those directions. They’re the foundation on which I built my life and continue to shape who I am today.
I’ve learned the hard way that life doesn’t always play out the way you hope. I’ve faced some dark times when it felt like the universe was determined to keep me down. Addiction was one of those battles, a beast that I had to wrestle with every single day. But it wasn’t just addiction. I’ve faced emotional trauma, career setbacks, and personal betrayals that shook me to my core. And through it all, I’ve learned that you can’t just white-knuckle your way through life. You need tools—real tools—that help you rise when it feels like everything around you is crumbling.
That’s where discipline comes in. Discipline isn’t just about waking up at 5 a.m. and working out or making sure you check off every box on your to-do list. It’s about commitment. It’s about being dedicated to your own growth, even when nobody’s watching, even when it feels like the effort isn’t paying off. There were countless days during my recovery when I didn’t feel like showing up for myself. There were days when the cravings hit hard and when the emotional weight of past mistakes felt like it was too much to bear. But in those moments, discipline became my anchor. It kept me grounded. It reminded me that even if I couldn’t control my emotions, I could control my actions.
I think back to the times when I let my discipline slip. Those were the days when addiction dug its claws deeper into me. I’d convince myself that just one drink or one pill wouldn’t hurt. I thought I could handle it. But that’s the lie addiction feeds you—the idea that you can have just a little bit and still stay in control. I’ve learned that discipline isn’t just about setting boundaries; it’s about sticking to them, even when the temptation is overwhelming.
What I’ve come to realize over the years is that discipline isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach. It’s deeply personal. What works for me may not work for you, and that’s okay. The key is to find what keeps you aligned with your goals and what helps you stay true to the path you’ve chosen. For me, discipline means caring for my body, mind, and spirit. It’s waking up and deciding that no matter what happens that day, I’m going to put in the work. I’m going to show up. Because I know that every time I honor that commitment, I’m strengthening my resilience.
Ah, resilience. If discipline is the foundation, resilience is the glue that holds everything together when life throws its inevitable curveballs. Resilience is what keeps you going when you’re tired and frustrated, and everything seems like it’s falling apart. I’ve had to learn how to bend without breaking and navigate the storm without losing sight of who I am.
I remember the summer of 2020 vividly. It was a time of chaos, a time when the world seemed to be unraveling at the seams. I stood guard over a building and its occupants in downtown Indianapolis, watching the protests and unrest unfold around me. It felt like I was living in a war zone. Emotionally, I was stretched thin. There were moments when I didn’t know if I could keep doing it, facing the anger and frustration permeating the streets. But something inside me—something rooted in resilience—kept me grounded. It wasn’t about being invincible or unshaken but about learning to stand firm even when the world was shaking.
Resilience, for me, has always been about adaptation. It’s not about pretending everything’s okay when it’s not. It’s about acknowledging the struggle, feeling the pain, and then deciding to keep moving forward anyway. I’ve faced moments of deep betrayal, moments when it felt like the very ground beneath me was giving way. But in those moments, I had to remind myself that resilience isn’t about bouncing back to who you were—it’s about growing into someone new, stronger, and more equipped to handle the next challenge.
I don’t think resilience is something we’re born with. I believe it’s something we cultivate. It’s a muscle that gets stronger every time we face adversity and choose not to give up. And let me tell you, there were plenty of times when giving up seemed like the easier option. In the darkest days of my addiction, when I had lost so much—my job, my business, the trust of my family—there was a voice in my head telling me just to let go, to stop fighting, to surrender to the chaos. But another voice, a quieter, steadier voice, told me that I had a choice. I could either let the weight of my mistakes crush me or stand up, face them head-on, and start rebuilding.
That’s the thing about resilience. It’s not flashy. It’s not about big, heroic moments. It’s about the quiet, daily decision to keep going, to keep pushing forward, even when the progress feels slow and the path feels uncertain. It’s about the days when you don’t feel like doing anything, but you get out of bed anyway. It’s about the nights when the weight of the world feels like too much, but you refuse to let it break you.
Discipline and resilience—they’re a team. One without the other just doesn’t work. Discipline gives you the structure, the routine, and the consistency to pursue your goals. Resilience gives you the strength to adapt when life inevitably throws you off course. Together, they form the backbone of personal growth. They’re the reasons I’m still here, still fighting, still striving to be the best version of myself.
There’s a saying that the only constant in life is change. I’ve found that to be true time and time again. Life is unpredictable. You can make all the plans in the world, but you can’t always control the outcome. What you can control is how you respond to the twists and turns. You can control your discipline—your daily commitment to growth—and you can cultivate your resilience—the strength to keep going when things get tough.
I carry this mantra—”Stay disciplined. Stay resilient.”—with me every single day. It’s not just something I say; it’s something I live. And I believe that if you embrace these principles, they can transform your life just as they’ve transformed mine. Whether you’re dealing with addiction, trauma, or just the everyday stresses that come with being human, discipline and resilience will see you through. They will guide you through the storms and help you emerge stronger on the other side.
So, if you’re struggling right now and feel like life is testing you in ways you weren’t prepared for, I encourage you to hold on to these words: Stay disciplined. Stay resilient. You’re stronger than you know; every day is an opportunity to prove that to yourself.
Because at the end of the day, it’s not about the battles we fight—it’s about how we rise, how we grow, and how we keep moving forward, no matter what.
Stay disciplined. Stay resilient.
Jim Lunsford
Disclaimers:
Use of Artificial Intelligence: Jim Lunsford is committed to sharing authentic and meaningful content. To enhance the clarity and effectiveness of his writing, Jim utilizes Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a tool in the content creation process. While AI assists in organizing and refining his ideas, every thought, insight, and story shared on this website is genuinely his own. The use of AI does not alter the authenticity of his work; rather, it helps Jim communicate more effectively with you, his audience. Jim's goal remains to inspire, motivate, and connect, and AI is simply a tool that supports that mission.
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