In the context of coding I just craved it, never needed any discipline.
With music most seem to learn like the author just wanting to create something and learning along the way rather than "now it's time for my 2 hours of ableton practice"
With instruments I think the situation is pathological. We teach everybody to learn the exact same things, scales, patterns and chords in the exact same way, and then ask them to be original. But you can just take an instrument and start making random sounds, better and better over time because there's tight feedback loop linked with your music perception. And sure, you won't be able to play what others have played - but you will be able to express yourself in an unique way.
I think most of those who did spend 1000s of hours on specific thing, did not require any discipline to do these things. They just wanted to do them. Even if they sucked at it.
This is a real life :) I get your point and I know some people who work your way who went very far. But if you don't want examples from my circle just read some biographies. People who spend 1000s of hours on something are passionate about it, they really want it. I don't think you can discipline yourself to spend 12h daily on something without going insane. But if you really want it, it's effortless, it's what you want to do.
I'm taking time to respond because what you say is what I've been thought, and I think it's just unnecessary mental gymnastics that may cause suffering. If it does not and it makes one happy, then whatever story works seems fine. But having two different narrations that end up with the same actions, I'd choose one which is less painful.
You are choosing to discipline yourself to be doing something. So you want to be doing this thing. If you allow yourself to truly question your whole life, then either you decide you don't really want to be doing this, or you understand that you do. If you bring out the contradiction to the surface, it just resolves itself.
Because this is a logical contradiction in your mind - I don't want to do this but I want to do this. If you want B and it requires A then if you eliminate thinking about them separately and treat them as one thing - B comes with A, then either you want it or not.
It sounds awfully like preaching, and I'm sorry about that. But since you took time to read it maybe you'll at least have some fun entertaining the idea in your head while really not wanting to do something. The concept brought me a lot of joy and made my life easier so I naturally feel like sharing it.
> People who spend 1000s of hours on something are passionate about it, they really want it.
This does not preclude discipline. Here again, this is long-term. The motivation isn't necessarily there at every waking moment. A runner or bodybuilder for instance won't just take a day off because they're tired and don't feel like exercising. The "I want" assertion can be a matter of moment-to-moment whim, not careful soul-searching.
> I think it's just unnecessary mental gymnastics that may cause suffering.
I'm currently suffering from your mental gymnastics.
In the context of coding I just craved it, never needed any discipline.
With music most seem to learn like the author just wanting to create something and learning along the way rather than "now it's time for my 2 hours of ableton practice"
With instruments I think the situation is pathological. We teach everybody to learn the exact same things, scales, patterns and chords in the exact same way, and then ask them to be original. But you can just take an instrument and start making random sounds, better and better over time because there's tight feedback loop linked with your music perception. And sure, you won't be able to play what others have played - but you will be able to express yourself in an unique way.
I think most of those who did spend 1000s of hours on specific thing, did not require any discipline to do these things. They just wanted to do them. Even if they sucked at it.