There is an intrinsic connection between discipline and freedom that affects us in many aspects of our lives.

Ultimately, it is through short-term victories that we achieve our long-term goals.

We are creatures of habit, and leveraging our habitual tendencies is one of the best ways to develop discipline.

When we are active, we become stronger and more energetic. This, in turn, makes us more positive and self-confident. It’s a powerful cycle.

If the mind can cause stress, the mind can alleviate it. It’s within our power to choose one thought over another — to choose optimism over pessimism.

When we are aware and sensitive to what’s happening, we can take steps to make things better.

Greater awareness brings about a greater appreciation of the people, places, and things in our lives. The more observant we are, the richer our daily experiences become.

We are evolutionarily hard-wired to prioritize negative stimuli because of the survival advantages this gives us. Evolution is blind, and it doesn’t necessarily care about our happiness. That’s up to us.

Living in the moment does not mean forgetting about the past or ignoring the future. It means drawing on our past experiences and keeping the future in sight as we put all of our energy into the present.