"You have a discipline problem. You play down to lesser competition." 

These words from the NFL Combine in 2010 still echo.

A stark reminder that our true character isn't revealed in moments of glory, But in how we show up when the stakes seem low.

"You have a discipline problem. We want to draft you but you're very interesting... You have no problem playing against top competition. I'm concerned about what you do when you believe players are not as good as you are."

Bright-eyed at the NFL Combine, I met with the Washington Redskins. It was a time when NFL Draft prospects hoped to see their dreams come true. During a meeting with the team, I sat down with team personnel, expecting to watch a film of my performance against top-rated players. Instead, they showed me the opposite—games against lesser talent where I "played down" to their level.

I was fuming.

This moment has never left me, yet somehow I didn't learn my lesson then. This behavior continued in spurts throughout my career.

I didn't understand the beauty of what I've captured now. Discipline isn't constraint; it's liberation. It frees us from the tyranny of impulse and the chaos of indecision. True freedom isn't doing whatever we want at the moment.

It's having the power to do what's best for us in the long run.

I remember watching the Redskins draft Trent Williams over me, truly an amazing player, but always wondered if that was the nail in the coffin. They made a decision of seeing two supremely talented players, but choosing the more consistent one over the other.

I know better now. Discipline is self-love in action, self-respect made visible. It's the bridge between who you are and who you're capable of becoming. My goal? To become my highest self through this radical act of love.

Now that the long term fast has given me the freedom to explore my body again, I have another chance at life. I mentioned last week how I’ve begun practicing martial arts. Training myself in a completely different way. I'm rebuilding for a different phase of life. The principles remain, but the application evolves. 

This is the beauty of discipline: it's not about perfection, but progression. It's about showing up, day after day, and pushing your limits. The game remains the same.

Can I chase mastery in a different art? Is everything I’ve been putting together transferable? Capoeira, among many other things I’m involved in, is helping me explore ranges I never knew existed. 

Keep showing up, keep growing, keep becoming.

RO