The 1 year self-discipline experiment that changed me forever.

Jan 15, 2025Carly Burr
The 1 year self-discipline experiment that changed me forever.

 

At the start of 2024, I was six months into my podcast, consistently posting one episode a week. For me, that was already a big step toward discipline—showing up week after week, no matter what. But by mid-January, I was sitting with that fresh New Year energy, reflecting on what I wanted to be different. And the one thing that kept coming up? Discipline. I wanted to trust myself more, listen to myself more, and push myself to grow in ways I never had. So I challenged myself to do just that and not in the most conventional way… I made one decision that might sound ridiculous to some: I gave up desserts for the whole year. Yes. I know. Sounds…lame? Silly? but it worked WONDERS for me. And i’m not talking from a health standpoint per se. This singular decision led me to having the biggest disciplined year of my life to date!

So, why desserts?

I love sweets. Love sweets. I’d eat my mother-in-law’s leftover cake for breakfast, grab cookies off the counter without thinking twice, and if something was available, my mindset was: Might as well eat it now so I won’t be tempted later.(I know, I know, not the healthiest mindset to have lol)

But I realized(and this wasn’t the first time) that wasn’t the kind of person I wanted to be. I wanted to be in control of my decisions, not ruled by the temptation when it’s available. And believe me, I had taken many sugar breaks before—a month here, three months there—but this time, I wanted to actually change my behavior and REALLY teach myself discipline which hadn’t happened in the way I had wanted in those short few months. So, on January 13, 2024, I committed to a year without desserts.

(cue the applause right?!)

Not quite, and that’s not what I was searching for. But let me tell you..the reactions to my decision were less than understanding. ALL YEAR, people rolled their eyes. They laughed. They told me moderation was better. They warned me I’d go crazy when I could eat sweets again. But I didn’t care. This wasn’t about avoiding sugar—it was about proving to myself that I could do something hard, even when people didn’t get it.

Who’s laughing now?!

While i’m not bitter towards anyone who waved cake in my face, took dramatic bites right in front of me to try to convince me i’m missing out, or making a mistake- here’s what happened this last year all because of my dedication to becoming more disciplined.

This past year, I:

  • Wrote and self-published my first book
  • Got interviewed on multiple podcasts
  • Pitched myself for huge opportunities (got ghosted & rejected a whole lot but also learned to much through it!)
  • Launched a movement & brand
  • Planned my first in-person event
  • And, most importantly, I learned to trust myself.

I know now without a doubt, that I can set a goal and follow through. I’ve built an unshakable belief in my own capability & capacity. And that is worth more than any slice of cake!

The real lesson

This year taught me how to let go of other people’s opinions. It showed me how to be okay with being misunderstood. Because at the end of the day, I know my intentions. And if being misunderstood, laughed at, or not taken seriously is the price I have to pay to stay aligned with the person I want to be, that’s a very small price to pay.

What about you?

I’m not here to tell you what you should do. I’m here to encourage you to figure out what works for you—to be relentless in your pursuit of challenging yourself, to expect more from yourself. To take control of what you can control and just go for it! Do the extreme thing, the thing no one understands. Who cares if it’s not what everyone else is doing? You know what’s best for you—you probably just don’t give yourself enough credit for it. Where could a year of discipline take you? And here’s the thing—it doesn’t have to be January 1st. Change doesn’t wait for a new year. It happens the moment you decide. And you’re never really going to feel like it, so why not make today that day? I’m rooting for you. I believe in you. And I know you’re capable of more than you think.

 

"A year of discipline will teach you more about yourself than a lifetime of waiting for motivation."

xx

Carly

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