First published in The Hindu, 3 Jan 2026

Motivation, especially the intrinsic variety, is often touted as being essential for people’s success. The yearning to do something is what gets us going in the first place. Without this spark, we may just lie in bed, especially if we believe that what we do isn’t impactful. However, while intrinsic motivation is important, we also need to cultivate discipline to achieve a goal. Whether it’s losing weight, scaling a Himalayan peak or writing a book, we need to act on our desire to effect change. Discipline enables us to stick it out, especially when the going gets tough.

Yin and yang

            In a blog post on Second Nature, Tamara Willner says motivation and discipline are the yin and yang of well-being. When we engage in an activity because we find it “personally rewarding,” we are intrinsically motivated. So, we may crack our heads over a crossword every morning or go for a run because we find these activities pleasurable. However, there might be days when you are not inclined to run either because you slept in or have more pressing tasks to attend to. This is where discipline plays a part.

            According to Willner, discipline refers to “training yourself to work in a controlled and regular way.”In a blog post on Psyche, Christian Jarrett says that Oleksandr Usyk, an Ukrainian boxer who has been a world champion twice, rates discipline as being key to his success. As motivation is fleeting, we cannot depend on this alone to achieve goals. We also need to inculcate habits that get us there, and discipline helps us form those habits.

            Eric Partaker, an executive coach also argues in a blog post on EricPartaker&Co, that motivation may “get you started” but discipline is what sees you through to the “finish line.” He reinforces Usyk’s point that motivation doesn’t last long. That’s why we rely on discipline to keep our “commitment to the process.”

Work together

But sheer discipline, without motivation, is unlikely to help you climb higher peaks. I’m rarely motivated to clean up my house. However, when I find a room or cupboard looking unduly messy, I muster the discipline to declutter. Neither do Irelish the process nor do I set more exacting standards of cleanliness for myself. So, discipline without motivation does not help us rise to new levels. Successful people, says Willner, tend to dip into both the sauces of discipline and motivation.

If I examine my impetus to write or workout, I have to confess that my motivation ebbs and flows. There are days when I feel compelled to put down thoughts on paper and days when I feel I don’t have anything compelling to say. Discipline is what helps me chug through periods when inspiration doesn’t strike. If I only write on days I feel motivated, then my output would be very sparse. But if I commit to writing a predetermined number of words every day, no matter how I’m feeling, I have something to work on. Then my motivation kicksin and helps me stay on course.

Likewise, my desire to exercise yo-yos from day to day. But since I’ve managed to make it a habit, by repeatedly doing it at the same time every day, I don’t even ask myself if I’m in the mood to exercise. I just know it’s time to lace my shoes and I go through the motions almost on autopilot. Unlike my spring cleaning efforts, there are days when I enjoy my workout and am enthused to push myself by either upping the weights or trying a more challenging routine.

So, motivation and discipline are the twin forces that galvanize and keep us on track to achieve our goals.

The writer is visiting faculty at the School of Education, Azim Premji University, Bengaluru, and the co-author of Bee-Witched.