Discipline Over Dopamine: What My Sciatica is Teaching Me About Healing & Growth

Over the past month, I was humbled by my body. A sharp sciatic nerve injury left me unable to “do it all” like I usually try to. I cried in frustration, I leaned on my kids for help, & I finally surrendered to what my husband Troy had been gently telling me: you need real healing, not just band-aids.

& in that surrender, I was reminded: healing requires discipline.

Our brains are wired for survival, not success. They want us to stay safe, stagnant, & comfortable—even when “comfortable” means living with pain. That’s why waking up early feels impossible, eating clean feels like a punishment, & working out feels like a chore. Discomfort threatens the brain’s comfort zone.

But here’s the truth: every rep in the gym, every clean meal, every time we choose to stretch instead of scroll, or hydrate instead of hustle, we’re not just strengthening our bodies—we’re retraining our minds to believe in us.

Choosing discipline over dopamine is what rewires us. Healing isn’t always glamorous. It doesn’t always feel good. But each disciplined choice is a vote for the future version of ourselves that is unstoppable.

My sciatica is teaching me this right now. Discipline is not punishment—it’s the deepest form of self-love. Here's to continued growth & healing through the soul's journey.

Confidence Catalyst
-Becky P.