There’s a choice we all face every day, one that shapes our lives more than we might realize. It’s not a choice between good and bad, or right and wrong. It’s subtler than that, and perhaps more important.

Nick Saban, the legendary college football coach, puts it this way: “There are two pains in life. There is the pain of discipline and the pain of disappointment. If you can handle the pain of discipline, then you’ll never have to deal with the pain of disappointment.”

This isn’t just about football. It’s about life, especially for young people who are laying the foundation for their future.

Think about the last time you faced a challenge. Maybe it was a tough exam, a difficult project at work, or a personal goal you set for yourself. Did you push through the discomfort, or did you take the easy way out?

The pain of discipline is immediate but temporary. It’s the ache in your muscles after a hard workout, the mental strain of studying when you’d rather be watching TV, the discomfort of saying no to instant gratification.

But the pain of disappointment? That’s a different beast entirely. It’s the gnawing feeling that you could have done more, been more. It’s the “what if” that haunts you long after the opportunity has passed. The Bible speaks to this in Proverbs 15:32: “Those who disregard discipline despise themselves, but the one who heeds correction gains understanding.”

Saban takes this concept even further with two crucial questions:

1. “Is there something I’m supposed to do that I really don’t want to do. Can I make myself do it?”
2. “If there is something I know I’m damn well not supposed to do but I want to do it, can I keep myself from doing it?”

These questions cut to the heart of self-discipline. They challenge us to confront our desires and our responsibilities head-on.

Every time you choose discipline, you’re creating a habit of victory. Every time you shy away from it, you’re cultivating a habit of defeat. There’s no middle ground.

Look around you. You’ll see mediocre people making undisciplined choices every day. They’re the ones who hit snooze instead of hitting the gym, who scroll through social media instead of scrolling through their textbooks. They are the guys who can’t keep their private parts in their pants.  They are the undisciplined drinkers. They’re building a foundation of sand, and when life’s storms come – as they inevitably will – their dreams and aspirations will crumble.

It’s not always easy to be disciplined. It can be downright uncomfortable. But with each challenge you face head-on, with each difficult task you complete, with each day you wake up to be at work before your boss and each day you stay late to be the last one at work, you’re laying down another brick in the foundation of your success. You’re building a life that can withstand the storms.

And here’s the sweet part: These victories, no matter how small, start to accumulate. They build momentum. Suddenly, you’re not just achieving your goals – you’re surpassing them. You’re accomplishing things that once seemed impossible, not because the tasks have become easier, but because you’ve become stronger.

Remember, the choices you make now don’t just affect you. One day, your spouse will count on you to be disciplined. Your children will look to you as an example. Your colleagues will rely on your consistency. The habits you’re forming now are shaping the person you’ll be then.

So, the question isn’t just about what you’ll do today. It’s about who you’ll become tomorrow. Will you embrace the habit of victory or succumb to the habit of defeat? This choice isn’t made once – it’s made every single day, in every challenge you face.

As the Bible reminds us, “No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.” Choose wisely. Your future self, and all those who will depend on that future self, are counting on you.