Hard work and sacrifice in the absence of self-deception (if someone falls prey to self-deception, they could work hard at something to distract themselves from what they truly know they need to do) is bargaining with the future—asking for a better set of circumstances through your immediate offerings.  

I’d argue that putting in effort while knowing the outcome is uncertain could be roughly defined as courage.  And enjoying the effort without expectation of reward could be roughly defined as harmony; I’d argue you’re voluntarily enjoying the strife of living without becoming embittered or entitled.

I’ve personally suffered from poor discipline and ineffective thought processes.  I try and minimize those faults in myself because I’ve seen friends and family absolutely devastated by them over time.  

From what I’ve seen, [being undisciplined/refusing to question yourself/address your failings] is simply not worth it in the long run.  

If I drag my feet or if I procrastinate, life makes me pay with missed opportunities.  If I choose wrongly, life makes me pay with the consequence of error.  

So the only thing that makes sense to me is to constantly apply myself, employing as much self-honesty as I can possibly muster, which allows me to craft the soundest strategy I can possibly think of.

If I don’t act, then my environment will continue changing, and I will be acted upon.  Pauses are necessary, but as part of a greater strategy—not out of fear, or the unwillingness to act.  

If the whole “warrior” paradigm is appealing—and I define that as a paradigm where you strive against an enemy, which could even be yourself—I don’t think you have to be [some cool thing] in order to express it.  Because with every passing second, a little more potential is being taken away; entropy is dismantling our plans, little by little. 

So the warrior paradigm can be employed by living a life of discipline, so as to deny my cravings the power to disrupt my momentum.  I can aggressively maneuver against all obstacles, and be brutally honest with myself to clear my perception, so I can formulate the best strategy possible.  I can try and deny entropy all positions with which it can stifle my opportunities.  

I believe one can meditate, go to workshops, or research all the life hacks they want, but if those tools don’t cut through obstacles and gain people position/victory, then they are only aping the idea of a warrior, not living it.

Quite often, I’ve turned my nose up at an opportunity that I found too “low.”  One that would require me to work hard for no immediate reward, or was seemingly undignified.  Now, I realize that was pure ego; when you’re low, you take what you can get, and then you leverage your improved position into greater opportunities.  As Carl Jung once said:  “modern people don’t see God because they don’t look low enough.”

In my opinion, the best sacrifices I could offer up in pursuit of a goal are:  time, effort, and the most honest assessment of obstacles/methodology I’m capable of mustering.  

If you do all that knowing that success isn’t guaranteed, I’d argue that you’ve demonstrated the vaunted quality known as “detachment.” 

In my mind, beating myself up is vastly different from effectively criticizing myself.  If I choose the first option, I wallow in ineffective thought patterns.  If I choose the second option, I’ve taken a step toward addressing a deficiency.  The first option is harmful, while the second is, IMHO, necessary.  

Neither is pleasant.