You know that post-holiday feeling where you should be cracking on with life but instead you’re just… cracking open another box of Christmas chocolates? Yeah, that’s me. Still basking in the New York glow, nibbling on festive leftovers, and pretending my alarm clock doesn’t exist.
My mentor, Dean Holland, (Dean’s book, The Iceberg Effect, is a game-changer if you’re looking for that spark) kicked off the year with a motivational Monday all about discipline. He said it’s the key to smashing our goals this year. Sounds good, right? Except my version of discipline this week has been… let’s call it “flexible.” I set my alarm an hour and a half earlier every day with big plans to launch a new digital product. Guess how many times I got up? That’s right: a grand total of zero.
By midweek, I was already giving myself the side-eye in the mirror, muttering things like, “Where’s your discipline gone? Did you leave it in Times Square?”
Then the snow hit.
We’re talking thick, frosty layers and iced-over car windows. Schools around us were closing faster than you could say “snowball fight,” but bless her, my daughter Ava’s school? Still open. Ava was not impressed. I was tempted to call it a snow day, keep her home, and spend the morning sledding (read: drinking tea while she sleds). But then, a little voice inside whispered, “What lesson are you teaching her?”
So, we went for it. De-iced the car, (This helped me a lot, you might like it too!) fought traffic for two hours, and crawled to school like determined penguins on a mission. Messages pinged in the school group chat—parents turning back after 20, 30 minutes of gridlock. I almost joined them. But nope, we powered through.
Did Ava thank me for my heroic grit? Absolutely not. She stomped into school with a face like a storm cloud, furious that her snow day dreams were crushed. But here’s the thing: it reminded me I do have grit and resilience. I haven’t lost it. It’s been there all along, buried under a pile of Cadbury wrappers.
This morning’s snowy adventure felt like a turning point. It reminded me that discipline isn’t about being perfect every day. It’s about showing up when it’s hard, when it’s tempting to quit, and when your TikToks aren’t getting views, your blogs aren’t hitting, or your sales are as frozen as your driveway.
So if you’re in a slump, like I was (okay, still am, but improving), here’s your friendly reminder: you haven’t lost it. You’re amazing, you’ve got this, and your mojo is just waiting for you to dust it off and put it to work.
This is Chapter 1 of 12 for the year, so let’s make it epic. (Start your year strong with this planner that keeps me on track) Full of grit, laughter, sales, and yes, occasionally annoying our kids. Because life’s too short to give up, and too sweet to skip the chocolates altogether.
Let’s do this.
Hi Sarah – I truly believe that persistence and determination will get us to where we need to be at any given moment or at some point in the future. However, the ability to snap out of a slump or behavior that may not be as productive as it could be it’s also important and necessary. I believe it is a skill. It is easy to stay non-productive or, dare I say, lazy. But the mark of a person as the ability to get past that and to continue to move forward. Obviously, you have that mark as you identified your situation and did the uncomfortable thing which will ultimately lead to the most profitable thing for you, your daughter and the rest of your family. I’m not saying that it’s not inappropriate to rest, or sleep in, or be a little bit lazy at times. It’s just knowing when to stop and get up and get moving. Thank you for this reminder as this is how I felt this morning. It was hard to get up and be productive. Your blog post was the first one I read, and I really needed to see it! Have a great day and a great weekend!
It can be tough to get out of the slump. It takes a lot of effort, much more than I thought. I was so motivated before Christmas and I need to get to that stage again. I’m sure I will. Thank you Ernie, have a lovely weekend x
Pretty funny to imagine Ava stamping her feet because she’s mad at you. I’m sure she got over it by now. But yes, we are human and we are not perfect. I don’t know anybody who is, but I know plenty of people who think they are. That would be called arrogance. When we know we are not perfect, that is called humility.
Great the way you sell a few products in your blog. It’s a great idea.
For schools to close here in Canada it takes far more than a frosty layer of snow. It requires a good storm with heavy winds and mountains of snow. De-icing our windshields is our national sport. I have 5 or 6 scrapers and next year I will have to buy new ones. 😂 You are so right though, it is hard to break the ice back from holidays. For most of us being productive is a slow progression during the first month of the year. Those who are able to call present and get the job done straight from the start have a step ahead for success.
Martin
Haha, I love how you turned that snowy school run into a lesson in resilience! 🙌 Sometimes it really is those small moments that remind us we’re tougher than we think. I totally get the struggle with discipline—this year, I’m all about trying to get just one small thing done each day instead of expecting perfection and taking on a million goals like I usually do. What’s your “one thing” you’re focusing on this week? Let’s share our wins! 🎯
Thank you for sharing such an honest and inspiring post! Your story about pushing through the snowy chaos and showing up for your daughter was a powerful reminder that discipline isn’t about being perfect but about taking action even when it’s inconvenient or tough. I loved how you highlighted the little life lessons we pass on to our kids (even if they don’t appreciate them right away). Your writing has motivated me to tackle my own goals with more grit and determination. I’m looking forward to reading your next post—keep up the great work! Thanks Atif
Atif Perwiz recently posted…Death, Life’s Tests, Faith, and Moving Forward