Aug. 16, 2025
Riff 946. Discretion: The Discipline Nobody Talks About
Send us a text In this episode, we unpack Proverbs 16:22—"Discretion is a life-giving fountain to those who possess it, but discipline is wasted on fools." Here's what I discovered this morning: everyone talks about discipline, but few ever develop discretion. I’ll show you why discretion is the internal leadership skill most people overlook—and how practicing it can save you from the endless cycle of correction, reaction, and regret. This one’s a short riff. I'll unpack it ...
In this episode, we unpack Proverbs 16:22—"Discretion is a life-giving fountain to those who possess it, but discipline is wasted on fools."
Here's what I discovered this morning: everyone talks about discipline, but few ever develop discretion.
I’ll show you why discretion is the internal leadership skill most people overlook—and how practicing it can save you from the endless cycle of correction, reaction, and regret.
This one’s a short riff. I'll unpack it more in a future episode.
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Keep it simple. Keep it moving. Never settle. Stay tough.
WEBVTT
00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:00.238
All right.
00:00:00.238 --> 00:00:01.350
3, 2, 1. Let's get it.
00:00:01.620 --> 00:00:04.528
Let me read to you quickly.
00:00:05.144 --> 00:00:18.884
Something that like snagged me this morning, and those of you who have rocked with me for a long time, , you know, I, I have a random reading ritual that I do every single morning, 15 minutes of random reading and something snags me.
00:00:18.884 --> 00:00:20.835
I stop right then and there and I write about it.
00:00:21.344 --> 00:00:23.835
And this morning I never even got to any books.
00:00:23.835 --> 00:00:29.774
This morning I was reading out of Proverbs and what I try to do is, is I try to, there's 31.
00:00:30.570 --> 00:00:32.098
Uh, chapters in Proverbs.
00:00:32.098 --> 00:00:52.539
So it's kind of my daily ritual so if today is the 16th, then I read Proverbs 16 and I read this this morning, Proverbs 1622, and it reads this, discretion is a life-giving fountain to those who possess it, but discipline is wasted on fools.
00:00:53.585 --> 00:00:57.095
And I kept coming back to this and I was like, what does that mean?
00:00:57.756 --> 00:01:05.436
Discretion is a life-giving fountain to those who possess it, but discipline is wasted on fools.
00:01:05.936 --> 00:01:17.055
So as I always do, I have to unpack this, and this became my morning writing i'm gonna unpack this in a longer form podcast, but I want to get it out to you first because I wanna see your take on it.
00:01:18.146 --> 00:01:20.786
So discretion is underrated.
00:01:21.266 --> 00:01:21.865
It is.
00:01:21.865 --> 00:01:30.596
We talk about discipline all the time, like get up early, stick to a plan, be consistent, grind, I mean, all that stuff.
00:01:30.686 --> 00:01:37.316
Yes, the discipline part of it matters, but we never really give much thought to discretion.
00:01:38.215 --> 00:01:40.945
Discretion is quiet.
00:01:41.665 --> 00:01:43.676
It doesn't post its reps.
00:01:44.066 --> 00:01:44.995
It doesn't scream.
00:01:44.995 --> 00:01:45.715
Look at me.
00:01:46.192 --> 00:01:48.022
But discretion is so powerful.
00:01:48.802 --> 00:01:52.433
Discretion is wisdom in motion.
00:01:53.033 --> 00:02:03.322
It's the ability to hit the mental pause button and think before you act to consider the ripple effect that you cause.
00:02:03.852 --> 00:02:05.563
Before you end up making a splash.
00:02:05.862 --> 00:02:07.843
Here's what I came to realize this morning.
00:02:09.282 --> 00:02:14.413
When you lead with discretion, you don't need much discipline.
00:02:15.013 --> 00:02:15.582
Why?
00:02:16.152 --> 00:02:19.092
Because you're not constantly cleaning up a mess.
00:02:19.543 --> 00:02:20.443
You're not living.
00:02:20.832 --> 00:02:23.923
In damage control, constantly putting out fires.
00:02:24.043 --> 00:02:26.983
You're not reacting, you're responding.
00:02:27.643 --> 00:02:30.913
See, fools reject discretion.
00:02:31.453 --> 00:02:36.312
They need discipline over and over again, and sometimes they'll even manipulate it.
00:02:36.402 --> 00:02:39.193
They'll apologize, they'll cry.
00:02:39.402 --> 00:02:43.362
They promise they'll never do it again, and then they repeat it.
00:02:44.487 --> 00:02:52.138
Discretion prevents discipline corrects, which one do you wanna live by?
00:02:52.638 --> 00:02:54.798
So what does discretion look like for you?
00:02:55.217 --> 00:02:58.578
Good news is it's readily available right here, right now.
00:02:58.967 --> 00:03:00.527
How do you develop discretion?
00:03:01.127 --> 00:03:04.367
You hold your tongue instead of lashing out.
00:03:05.117 --> 00:03:06.168
Through curiosity.
00:03:06.168 --> 00:03:07.487
You ask a question.
00:03:08.237 --> 00:03:12.258
Instead of making an assumption, you pause and reflect.
00:03:13.098 --> 00:03:18.432
Before reacting emotionally, you think long before acting short.
00:03:19.608 --> 00:03:19.758
It.
00:03:19.877 --> 00:03:22.068
Discretion is not any sort of weakness.
00:03:22.367 --> 00:03:23.747
It's not indecision.
00:03:24.467 --> 00:03:27.467
It's actually strength under control.
00:03:27.888 --> 00:03:30.828
It's wisdom in real time.
00:03:31.751 --> 00:03:37.061
So let me give you a definition that I wanna apply to my life.
00:03:37.591 --> 00:03:38.790
What does it mean to be wise?
00:03:38.790 --> 00:03:39.480
Wisdom.
00:03:40.036 --> 00:03:47.626
It is applying the right knowledge at the right time for the right reasons, and that's exactly what discretion does.
00:03:48.165 --> 00:03:49.786
Discretion zooms out.
00:03:50.205 --> 00:03:57.293
It considers it's aligned, and the more you develop discretion, the quicker it gets.
00:03:57.443 --> 00:04:01.763
At first, like anything, it's gonna be a long pause, but over time.
00:04:02.513 --> 00:04:04.252
It's gonna become second nature for you.
00:04:04.432 --> 00:04:05.633
It's a trained instinct.
00:04:05.782 --> 00:04:09.419
It's not a reaction, but more so a response.
00:04:10.126 --> 00:04:11.626
So discipline is great.
00:04:11.626 --> 00:04:14.566
It is needed IT discretion.
00:04:15.225 --> 00:04:16.786
That's that internal game.
00:04:17.175 --> 00:04:18.495
That's the internal leadership.
00:04:18.961 --> 00:04:20.281
Most people never develop.
00:04:20.521 --> 00:04:27.841
We always talk about discipline, but you don't need as much discipline if you lead with discretion.
00:04:28.500 --> 00:04:30.360
So here's my challenge to you today.
00:04:30.750 --> 00:04:36.571
Be the kind of person who needs less correction because you lead with consideration.
00:04:37.071 --> 00:04:38.240
Get outta this loop.
00:04:38.612 --> 00:04:42.483
Of repeating the same mistake, hoping for a different outcome.
00:04:43.233 --> 00:04:44.853
Just choose discretion today.
00:04:45.302 --> 00:04:46.502
It's available to you.
00:04:46.502 --> 00:04:49.833
Right now, using curiosity and creativity.
00:04:50.083 --> 00:04:55.213
all you have to do is just start taking a mental knee, You're playing the long game.
00:04:55.786 --> 00:04:57.045
This is how you lead yourself.
00:04:57.045 --> 00:04:57.495
Well.
00:04:58.245 --> 00:04:58.636
Alright.
00:04:59.446 --> 00:05:00.946
Remember, as always, keep it simple.
00:05:00.946 --> 00:05:01.516
Keep it moving.
00:05:01.516 --> 00:05:02.026
Never settle.
00:05:02.026 --> 00:05:02.565
Stay tough.
00:05:02.565 --> 00:05:02.985
Peace.
00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:00.238
All right.
00:00:00.238 --> 00:00:01.350
3, 2, 1. Let's get it.
00:00:01.620 --> 00:00:04.528
Let me read to you quickly.
00:00:05.144 --> 00:00:18.884
Something that like snagged me this morning, and those of you who have rocked with me for a long time, , you know, I, I have a random reading ritual that I do every single morning, 15 minutes of random reading and something snags me.
00:00:18.884 --> 00:00:20.835
I stop right then and there and I write about it.
00:00:21.344 --> 00:00:23.835
And this morning I never even got to any books.
00:00:23.835 --> 00:00:29.774
This morning I was reading out of Proverbs and what I try to do is, is I try to, there's 31.
00:00:30.570 --> 00:00:32.098
Uh, chapters in Proverbs.
00:00:32.098 --> 00:00:52.539
So it's kind of my daily ritual so if today is the 16th, then I read Proverbs 16 and I read this this morning, Proverbs 1622, and it reads this, discretion is a life-giving fountain to those who possess it, but discipline is wasted on fools.
00:00:53.585 --> 00:00:57.095
And I kept coming back to this and I was like, what does that mean?
00:00:57.756 --> 00:01:05.436
Discretion is a life-giving fountain to those who possess it, but discipline is wasted on fools.
00:01:05.936 --> 00:01:17.055
So as I always do, I have to unpack this, and this became my morning writing i'm gonna unpack this in a longer form podcast, but I want to get it out to you first because I wanna see your take on it.
00:01:18.146 --> 00:01:20.786
So discretion is underrated.
00:01:21.266 --> 00:01:21.865
It is.
00:01:21.865 --> 00:01:30.596
We talk about discipline all the time, like get up early, stick to a plan, be consistent, grind, I mean, all that stuff.
00:01:30.686 --> 00:01:37.316
Yes, the discipline part of it matters, but we never really give much thought to discretion.
00:01:38.215 --> 00:01:40.945
Discretion is quiet.
00:01:41.665 --> 00:01:43.676
It doesn't post its reps.
00:01:44.066 --> 00:01:44.995
It doesn't scream.
00:01:44.995 --> 00:01:45.715
Look at me.
00:01:46.192 --> 00:01:48.022
But discretion is so powerful.
00:01:48.802 --> 00:01:52.433
Discretion is wisdom in motion.
00:01:53.033 --> 00:02:03.322
It's the ability to hit the mental pause button and think before you act to consider the ripple effect that you cause.
00:02:03.852 --> 00:02:05.563
Before you end up making a splash.
00:02:05.862 --> 00:02:07.843
Here's what I came to realize this morning.
00:02:09.282 --> 00:02:14.413
When you lead with discretion, you don't need much discipline.
00:02:15.013 --> 00:02:15.582
Why?
00:02:16.152 --> 00:02:19.092
Because you're not constantly cleaning up a mess.
00:02:19.543 --> 00:02:20.443
You're not living.
00:02:20.832 --> 00:02:23.923
In damage control, constantly putting out fires.
00:02:24.043 --> 00:02:26.983
You're not reacting, you're responding.
00:02:27.643 --> 00:02:30.913
See, fools reject discretion.
00:02:31.453 --> 00:02:36.312
They need discipline over and over again, and sometimes they'll even manipulate it.
00:02:36.402 --> 00:02:39.193
They'll apologize, they'll cry.
00:02:39.402 --> 00:02:43.362
They promise they'll never do it again, and then they repeat it.
00:02:44.487 --> 00:02:52.138
Discretion prevents discipline corrects, which one do you wanna live by?
00:02:52.638 --> 00:02:54.798
So what does discretion look like for you?
00:02:55.217 --> 00:02:58.578
Good news is it's readily available right here, right now.
00:02:58.967 --> 00:03:00.527
How do you develop discretion?
00:03:01.127 --> 00:03:04.367
You hold your tongue instead of lashing out.
00:03:05.117 --> 00:03:06.168
Through curiosity.
00:03:06.168 --> 00:03:07.487
You ask a question.
00:03:08.237 --> 00:03:12.258
Instead of making an assumption, you pause and reflect.
00:03:13.098 --> 00:03:18.432
Before reacting emotionally, you think long before acting short.
00:03:19.608 --> 00:03:19.758
It.
00:03:19.877 --> 00:03:22.068
Discretion is not any sort of weakness.
00:03:22.367 --> 00:03:23.747
It's not indecision.
00:03:24.467 --> 00:03:27.467
It's actually strength under control.
00:03:27.888 --> 00:03:30.828
It's wisdom in real time.
00:03:31.751 --> 00:03:37.061
So let me give you a definition that I wanna apply to my life.
00:03:37.591 --> 00:03:38.790
What does it mean to be wise?
00:03:38.790 --> 00:03:39.480
Wisdom.
00:03:40.036 --> 00:03:47.626
It is applying the right knowledge at the right time for the right reasons, and that's exactly what discretion does.
00:03:48.165 --> 00:03:49.786
Discretion zooms out.
00:03:50.205 --> 00:03:57.293
It considers it's aligned, and the more you develop discretion, the quicker it gets.
00:03:57.443 --> 00:04:01.763
At first, like anything, it's gonna be a long pause, but over time.
00:04:02.513 --> 00:04:04.252
It's gonna become second nature for you.
00:04:04.432 --> 00:04:05.633
It's a trained instinct.
00:04:05.782 --> 00:04:09.419
It's not a reaction, but more so a response.
00:04:10.126 --> 00:04:11.626
So discipline is great.
00:04:11.626 --> 00:04:14.566
It is needed IT discretion.
00:04:15.225 --> 00:04:16.786
That's that internal game.
00:04:17.175 --> 00:04:18.495
That's the internal leadership.
00:04:18.961 --> 00:04:20.281
Most people never develop.
00:04:20.521 --> 00:04:27.841
We always talk about discipline, but you don't need as much discipline if you lead with discretion.
00:04:28.500 --> 00:04:30.360
So here's my challenge to you today.
00:04:30.750 --> 00:04:36.571
Be the kind of person who needs less correction because you lead with consideration.
00:04:37.071 --> 00:04:38.240
Get outta this loop.
00:04:38.612 --> 00:04:42.483
Of repeating the same mistake, hoping for a different outcome.
00:04:43.233 --> 00:04:44.853
Just choose discretion today.
00:04:45.302 --> 00:04:46.502
It's available to you.
00:04:46.502 --> 00:04:49.833
Right now, using curiosity and creativity.
00:04:50.083 --> 00:04:55.213
all you have to do is just start taking a mental knee, You're playing the long game.
00:04:55.786 --> 00:04:57.045
This is how you lead yourself.
00:04:57.045 --> 00:04:57.495
Well.
00:04:58.245 --> 00:04:58.636
Alright.
00:04:59.446 --> 00:05:00.946
Remember, as always, keep it simple.
00:05:00.946 --> 00:05:01.516
Keep it moving.
00:05:01.516 --> 00:05:02.026
Never settle.
00:05:02.026 --> 00:05:02.565
Stay tough.
00:05:02.565 --> 00:05:02.985
Peace.