Name: Discipline Is Destiny
Rating: 4.7 (1419 reviews)
Author: Ryan Holiday

What’s in it for me? Discover how self-discipline leads to greatness.

A long time ago, before he went down in mythology as a great hero, Hercules was traveling in the hills of Greece when he came to a crossroads.

On one path, a stunning goddess beckoned to him, promising a life of luxury – he’d receive everything his heart desired and wouldn’t experience a moment of fear, pain, or unhappiness.

On the other path, a second goddess made an offer that was far less flashy. She also promised Hercules rewards – but only ones he earned himself. This path’s journey would be long, requiring hard work, perseverance, and sacrifice. But it would make him the person he was meant to be.

This legend illustrates a dilemma we all face on a daily basis: the choice between vice and virtue – the easy but ultimately empty way versus the hard but fulfilling route.

According to the ancient Stoics, virtue consisted of four parts: courage, temperance, justice, and wisdom. The Roman emperor and Stoic philosopher Marcus Aurelius called these components the “touchstones of goodness.” Everything good in life, he believed, resulted from practicing them.

In this Blink to Ryan Holiday’s Discipline Is Destiny, we’ll focus on the second of these cardinal virtues – temperance, or self-discipline. We’ll look at actionable ways to hone temperance in your everyday life, and how mastering it will unlock the door to fulfillment and peace of mind.

Oh, and Hercules? It goes without saying that our hero chose to meet his destiny on the path of virtue. Now, the choice is yours.

Self-discipline doesn’t deprive you – it grants you freedom.

Tired of your surroundings? Hop on a plane. Dissatisfied at work? Change jobs. Crave pizza? Order it. Have an opinion? Share it. In much of today’s world, people can do and access almost anything they want at the snap of a finger. And yet, with all this freedom, so many of us are so unhappy. What are we doing wrong?

President Eisenhower famously said that freedom is the “opportunity for self-discipline.” And this is the key. Unless we have temperance, or the virtue of self-discipline, all of these things that supposedly liberate us – technology, privilege, success – will only leave us spiraling without direction or purpose. In other words, access without self-restraint leads to imbalance and dysfunction.

Let’s dive in a little deeper. We all have a lower and higher self – those inner voices constantly vying for our attention. It’s Hercules’s choice between vice and virtue. The side that gives up versus the side that tries. The part that clings to excess and chaos versus the part that seeks balance.

Self-discipline is the ability to keep your lower self in check and strengthen your higher self. It involves working hard, practicing good habits, enduring challenges, setting boundaries, and turning a blind eye to temptations. In short, it’s about living a life guided by principles, moderation, and determination.

You might be thinking, Hell, no. Not for me. Self-discipline? More like self-deprivation! Maybe you celebrate or even envy people who take the easy path. You might think they’re having more fun or getting ahead faster. But look more closely, and you’ll realize that all that glitters isn’t gold. Take greed, for instance. It means you’re always on the prowl for more – and so never really enjoy everything you currently have. And not realizing your full potential? That’s a state which breeds pain, misery, and self-loathing.

Self-discipline isn’t about depriving yourself – in fact, it’s the opposite. It’s about using control to open up a world of opportunity.

Let’s return to Eisenhower for a moment. When he was young, he learned a Bible verse that echoed a lesson taught by the Stoic philosopher Seneca: “Most powerful is he who has himself in his own power.” Eisenhower carried this lesson throughout a long, unglamorous military career, all the way into his appointment to Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces in World War II – and then into his role as the 34th US president. His enormous success didn’t result from force; instead, he was powerful in his restraint and ability to persuade, compromise, and practice patience.

It’s true that it takes courage to cultivate self-discipline. But embracing this lifestyle will likely make you more successful. And, more importantly, it’ll make you great – no matter what happens.

In the next sections, we’ll explore exactly how to manifest self-discipline physically, mentally, and spiritually. First up? The body.

Take control of your body before it takes control of you.

Lou Gehrig was one of the greatest baseball players of all time. He hit 495 home runs, including 23 grand slams, and didn’t miss a single game in the 17 years he played for the Yankees – a record he held for more than five decades. But Lou wasn’t a natural athlete. As a kid, he was overweight and uncoordinated. So how did he end up playing 2,130 games straight, through injury and sickness, to become the legend he is today?

He trained harder than anyone else – and refused to quit. It’s safe to say Lou knew a thing or two about self-discipline.

Build on your physical self-discipline to temper the mind.

When you practice self-discipline in your body, you empower your mind to work at its full potential. These aren’t just flowery words – the neuroscientist Lisa Feldman Barrett has shown that brain function depends on a body’s well-being. If you’re physically depleted, your brain can’t do its job of regulating your body.

But there are lots of people out there who are physically self-disciplined . . . and yet their lives are still a mess. Why? Because there’s more to temperance than muscle. In the end, it doesn’t matter when you wake up, what you eat, or how much you push your body if your mind is constantly at the mercy of distractions, bad moods, or self-sabotaging impulses.

To achieve greatness, you have to align your body, mind, and spirit.

According to the ancients, charioteers were the ultimate model of temperance. A charioteer had to do many things simultaneously to win a race: Make their horses run as fast as possible while keeping them under control. Stay mentally focused while firmly gripping the reins. Steer around bumpy hairpin turns without crashing. Remain calm in the face of danger – and often death. All while a raucous crowd cheered and jeered.

A great charioteer existed on the magisterial plane – they aligned themselves physically, mentally, and spiritually to perform at the highest level in one of the most stressful situations imaginable.

Key ideas in Discipline Is Destiny

What is Discipline Is Destiny about?

Discipline Is Destiny (2022) draws on Stoic virtues to make a case for a life guided by self-discipline. It shows how being in control of your body, thoughts, and emotions is a prerequisite to mastering anything else – and uses historical figures to illustrate how things like sleep, discomfort, and kindness tie into greatness.

About the Author

Ryan Holiday is a modern Stoic, an author, and the owner of a bookstore called The Painted Porch. His books, including The Obstacle Is the Way, Ego Is the Enemy, The Daily Stoic, and the New York Times best seller Stillness Is the Key, have sold more than five million copies and been translated into over 40 languages. Discipline Is Destiny is the second book in Holiday’s Stoic Virtue series.