Regret

“We must all suffer from one of two pains: the pain of discipline or the pain of regret. The difference is discipline weighs ounces while regret weighs tons.”

― Jim Rohn

First, an elaboration of Jim Rohn's famous quote. 

From Brave AI: According to Jim Rohn, we all suffer from one of two types of pain: the pain of discipline or the pain of regret. The key difference lies in their weight and duration.

The Pain of Regret

• Weighs tons: Regrets are monumentally heavy and linger, often manifesting as “what ifs” when looking back on past decisions or missed opportunities.
• Burdensome: Regret can become a crushing weight, sticking with us for years to come.
• Unpredictable: Regret can strike at any moment, often unexpectedly, and can be devastating.

The Pain of Discipline

• Weighs ounces: Discipline, though initially uncomfortable, is a series of small, manageable pains that disappear quickly.
• Fleeting: The pain of discipline is temporary and short-lived, allowing us to move forward with confidence.
• Predictable: Discipline is a conscious choice, allowing us to anticipate and prepare for the temporary discomfort.

Who among us has not said, "if only?" Choose to control our words, our actions, and our thoughts. Our if onlys serve our ego as shields against reality. 

"If only I had trained harder..."

"If only I had studied harder..." 

"If only we had paid more attention to detail..."

Discipline defines destiny. Player development is discipline. Film study demands discipline. Sportsmanship requires discipline. Never have we regretted "sweating the small stuff." You know the term for it, "sweat equity."

Regret wastes energy that investment in yourself doesn't. Regret doesn't make us train harder or work smarter, discipline does. 

"I wish I had done that..." 

Regret negatively reaffirms disappointment and failure. Conversely, adopting Miguel Ruiz's fourth agreement, "Always do your best," sees that our best won't always be the best or even our best. Our humanity results in uneven performance and outcomes even with maximum effort. And giving our best frees us from the pain of regret. 

Lagniappe. Discipline. 

Lagniappe 2. Separate work from belief. 

“The most overrated thing is that you're a good defensive team because of your coaching. No. You're a good defensive team because you care and because it's important to you.” - Kelvin Sampson pic.twitter.com/uW3qtXUn6M

— Hoop Herald (@TheHoopHerald) July 20, 2024