Remain Disciplined Until the End

Don't confuse motivation with discipline.

Discipline does what motivation can't. Motivation fades. Discipline remains.

When the work feels insurmountable, just start. You will not get to the finish line without crossing the start line! When you’re tired, choose to do what you committed to. That’s discipline.

You may not feel motivated to finish that chapter, do that reading, or revise your draft. But discipline says: I choose to finish well. I have partnered with God on this, and He has given me the grace to endure.

Hebrews 12:11 (NIV) reminds us that “no discipline seems pleasant at the time… but later it produces a harvest.” It's too easy to talk yourself out of doing the challenging stuff, under the guise of 'I'm just not motivated', or ‘this is too hard’. But the harvest, the sure outcome of persevering, is good character and, of course, the postgraduate qualification you desire.

Truly, “the end of a matter is better than its beginning.” (Ecclesiastes 7:8, NIV)