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#020 The Discipline of Showing Up When the Motivation Fades
Greatness isn’t built on emotion—it’s built on showing up, especially when it’s hard.
Rey Mungai
May 09, 2025
“If a man knows not which port he sails, no wind is favorable.”
The Myth of Motivation
Some days, I wake up ready to conquer the world. Other days? I wake up just wanting to stay in bed.
That’s the thing about motivation—it’s inconsistent. It’s emotional. It’s fleeting.
But what I’ve learned as a father, entrepreneur, and man on a path of growth is this: progress isn’t built on motivation. It’s built on discipline.
Motivation might get you started. Discipline gets you through.
“You have power over your mind – not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.”
Showing Up Matters More Than Feeling Ready
There are days I don’t feel like working out. Days I don’t feel like being vulnerable. Days I don’t feel like praying, journaling, or writing.
But I’ve made a commitment to the man I want to become. And that man doesn’t wait to feel inspired, he honors the process.
Whether it’s showing up for my son every Monday morning school drop-off, writing a blog post when I feel emotionally drained, or pushing through a client pitch when doubt creeps in. It’s in those moments of resistance that discipline becomes the win.
You don’t rise by emotion. You rise by practice.
Routines That Anchor You
“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.”
The Stoics believed in structure—not as a prison, but as a foundation.
My morning routine isn’t just about productivity. It’s about grounding.
A few pages in a book before I check my phone
Movement (even when my body protests)
Quiet reflection, whether in prayer or journaling
These anchors remind me: I don’t have to feel like it. I just have to begin.
The mind will follow the body. The body will follow the habit. The habit becomes character.
Moments When Discipline Saved Me
“Difficulties strengthen the mind, as labor does the body.”
There have been seasons where motivation abandoned me entirely. Business struggles. Fatigue. Heartbreak.
But even in those moments, showing up—even in the smallest ways—kept the flame alive.
Writing when I didn’t think anyone would read
Working out on days that my body wants to quit
Picking up my son with a heavy heart and still smiling for him
Hitting “publish” even when I doubted the post
Working even when I don’t feel particularly inspired
Those weren’t glamorous wins. But they were the most meaningful.
Because those were the moments I proved to myself: I’m not led by how I feel. I’m led by who I’m becoming.
The Power of the Unseen Effort
“Progress is not achieved by luck or accident, but by working on yourself daily.”
The world celebrates visible progress. But what really transforms you is what no one sees:
The reps. The reflection. The restraint. The quiet “yes” when your mind says “no.”
So this week, don’t wait to feel like it. Don’t chase motivation. Chase alignment.
Greatness isn’t built in loud victories. It’s built in the discipline of showing up—again and again. Even when no one claps. Even when you don’t feel ready. Especially then.
Speak soon,
-Rey
Sophia • Andreia • Dikaiosyne • Sophrosyne
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