Consistency And How To Obtain It

Do you ever find yourself starting a project or specific activity that you’re really pumped about, but only a few months, weeks, or even days down the road you find all the excitement is gone? You wonder to yourself why couldn’t I be consistent? Why did I give up so easily?

1. Consistency isn’t a habit, its a lifestyle.

We need to stop looking at consistency as some habit we need to create. It’s something a bit more then that. Habits, either good or bad, one on top of the other are fundamentally the things that create the lifestyle we have.

The decisions we make daily lead to potential habits and one habit leads to the next then to the next, to the next and before you know it you haven’t just created a habit but rather an entire lifestyle made by your everyday choices repeated over and over.

Wow. So now stepping back we can see the importance of habits and their roll in our lives.

What is life but not a million habits stacked over each other? So when you are creating a habit you are essentially directing your lifestyle and that path your life will take.

2. There are good and bad consistencies.

Just like how there are good and bad habits.

If you consistently turn on your TV as the first thing you do when you get home from anywhere, and choose an unhealthy diet then you are creating an unhealthy consistency. If you constantly look for the healthiest option on a menu, or consistently make an effort go to the gym 2-3 days a week then you are creating a healthy consistency.

3. You can change your consistencies.

Nothing is set in stone and believe it or not, habits are reversible. It is totally within your power to create and live the life that you desire. So then…

4. How?

Well It’s simple really. I highly HIGHLY recommend James Clear’s book ‘Atomic Habits’ for a more in depth look into the creating and deconstruction of habits but here are a few pointers that I hope will be helpful to you.

A. By improving your habits

Take a good solid look at the habits that are influencing your lifestyle.

B. Hide the cookie jar

If you can’t see it, you won’t be tempted by it.

C. Put what you want in front of you

Make the good choices easily accessible.

D. Look at your environment

Does the environment around you encourage good habits and productivity?

E. Put your foot forward, even if it may not be your best

What’s that famous shoe brand and that thing they say?

It might be time to self reflect and ask yourself what consistencies in your life grow and encourage you and which stunt your productive growth. I can’t do this for you because we are all different and what stunts my growth might encourage yours.

Belief of the possibility of change encourages consistence.

It’s not so much about working hard as it is about working smart. It’s not willpower alone that generates consistency. You could have all the willpower in the world but if you don’t have the proper tools you will accomplish nothing.

For you to change your habits and create consistencies in your life you will need the following.

1. You need a reason

2. You need to be educated about it

3. You need to change your environment for it

4. You need to change your attitude about it

If you’re not passionate enough about it then you are bound to fail, at least that’s what they tell us, but its my belief that it has less to do with passion and more to do with consistency. Because lets be honest here, there will be day’s when you really don’t feel passionate but you still have to put in the work daily.

It will be boring and it WONT be the glamorous life that you thought it would be. This is the moment when consistency out rules passion and why it’s incredibly important. Let’s chew on that for a second.

Keep moving forward, consistancy overrules talent.