Ain’t That A VHIT
By Von C. Howard
During a recent meeting, someone said something that landed deeply with me:
“Intentionality means nothing without the discipline to back it up.”
In a room full of leaders navigating today’s pressures, economic uncertainty, rising costs, community challenges, and the constant noise of the world, you could feel the truth of that statement settle over us like a quiet revelation.
We are living in a time where life is moving faster than ever. Prices are rising, tensions are high, distractions are everywhere, and many of us are simply trying to maintain balance in the chaos. We set goals, make promises to ourselves, and speak about “next steps” and “new seasons.” However, intention alone won’t carry us through these complex times. Discipline will.
This isn’t a new lesson, our history taught it to us long before today’s challenges showed up. Our parents and grandparents survived discrimination, limited opportunities, and economic hardship with a level of discipline that held families and communities together. They didn’t have wellness apps or productivity planners; they had early mornings, determination, structure, and faith. Their discipline became the foundation for the progress we stand on today.
Now, in a modern world full of conveniences and distractions, discipline is both harder and more necessary than ever.
We intend to protect our mental health, but discipline reminds us to unplug, rest, and set boundaries.
We intend to be financially wiser, but discipline helps us budget despite inflation.
We intend to build stronger families, but discipline strengthens our patience and presence.
We intend to advance our careers or businesses, but discipline keeps us learning, planning, and showing up.
We intend to stay grounded spiritually, but discipline draws us back to prayer, meditation, and reflection.
Discipline is not punishment. It is direction. It is the steady hand guiding us through a world that often feels unpredictable. It’s the anchor that keeps us from drifting when life gets loud. And in today’s times, where burnout is common, attention is scattered, and uncertainty is constant, discipline becomes a form of self-preservation and empowerment.
What our ancestors used to survive, we must now use to thrive.
Their discipline turned obstacles into opportunities.
Ours can turn challenges into change.
As we face rising pressures and shifting realities, may we respond not with fear, but with structure. Not with overwhelm, but with intentional effort. Not with wishful thinking, but with the daily discipline that transforms intentions into achievements.
Because that meeting quote was right:
Intentionality without discipline is just hope. But intentionality paired with discipline is transformation.
In this season, let us honor our intentions by building the disciplined habits that carry us forward, one choice, one day, one step at a time. Your future, your family, and your community will feel the impact.