“Easy choices lead to a hard life. Hard choices lead to an easy life”…my esteemed Yoga teacher Clare reminded me of this quote (attributed to Rilke) in a newsletter of hers late last year. It got me thinking about the correlation between ‘change’, last month’s theme, ‘hope’ and ‘discipline’.
When you consider that hope comes into play usually because we want to change, we need a change, or as a result of a change, then discipline may well be the key to making things happen or enduring outcomes that we have no control over. Throwing luck into the mix and accepting that luck really is about opportunity and planning (no such thing as coincidence!), then things start to fire up in my mind.
Hope is something that makes us human and gives us our humanity. It is something that we can cling onto at the very worse of times. Instead of thinking of discipline, as control, as suggested by M. Currey, I’ve started rethinking of it as a surrendering and giving of yourself over to whatever it is you are working on. In Sanskrit the word Tapas is all about discipline – the discipline to continually do things that are difficult. Particularly true in my Yoga practice! That dedication to doing can sustain our hope…even make it last longer and be stronger. Often a discipline or commitment will facilitate a change that will serve us in some way or other.
I talk about discipline a lot in coaching sessions – having some rigour around how we live means we have agency over our lives and our careers.
So bringing all this together. Hope theory (Snyder) is clear about hope not being a passive thing we feel but rather a cognitive process that involves a process that may direct our goals and give us some agency over outcomes…..how do we do this? - through disciplined practice. And where do we usually end up? – with options and a new or changed state, situation or outcome that often serves us better and can even break some lousy mental, behavioural or life patterns.
In a world that is seemingly so out of control, unkind and unpredictable, holding onto hope allows us to control what we can control and live with that ‘possibilities mindset’ of curiosity, trust, acceptance and responsibility.
Next time ‘change’ happens to you, or you are ‘hoping’ for change – step back, take a deep breath and ask:
what does this moment ask of me?
what is there for me to do to enable heartfelt and conscious living, space for things to unfold within the natural rhythm and time of things and with an outcome that will serve me and others?
As ever, the challenge - To truly understand that what we give out eventually comes back to us.
Until next time….Keep Shining,
With love and best wishes
Trish x
Coaching can help you become a better leader and the best version of yourself – it creates space for you to reflect and consider your behaviours, your mindset, your environment, your values and your objectives. It can help to ground you and live and work more competently and with more intention, kindness and compassion. I help leverage your skills, wisdom, life experience and attributes and challenge your mindset - enabling you to become the very best version of you!
WORK WITH ME – Executive and Career Coach-Mentoring (or perhaps engage me to run a Yoga Class for you/your friends/colleagues).
Contact me today - trish@wisdominone.com.au or call (61) 411 626 549
I am the Principal of Wisdom in One. I have been working with and Coach-Mentoring Leaders for over 25 years. At Wisdom in One, our commitment is to a practical and holistic approach to achieving life balance for the mind, body, heart and soul; ensuring we take care of ourselves, each other and the world in order to create a better future for our children.
I not only believe but know that LEADERSHIP IS A RESPONSIBILITY AND IT IS SACRED.
By looking at and developing awareness about how we live, lead and work, we can create a powerful sense of 'knowing' and consciousness about what impact we have on our own lives, our health, others around us and our environment. By tapping into this wisdom, we can grow, change and live a fuller, richer life and make positive and enlightened contributions. Leaders have real-time impact on a community’s stability, sustainability and collective wellbeing. Therefore Leaders have a responsibility to their own wellbeing.
The challenge - To truly understand that what we give out eventually comes back to us.
visit my website: www.wisdominone.com.au
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https://www.wisdominone.com.au/blogs (15)
Feb 2026