Consistent with being consistent

Robert Lloyd said;

“Slow and steady wins the race.”

We’ve all heard this phrase like a million times; I know I have but have failed to comprehend the meaning truly.

Before practicing the art of consistency in life, let’s talk about “consistency” first.

It’s “steadfast adherence.” Now the question is;

“Adhere to what?”

The simple answer is; sticking to your principles, goals, habits, or routines.

In this world, almost all of us are living towards achieving a goal. And to achieve that goal, being consistent and having that “keep swimming” attitude is essential.

As Confucius said;

“It doesn’t matter how slowly you go as long as you don’t stop.”

But, it aint all ‘easy like Sunday morning’ either due to our little friend call “Procrastination.”

Yep….I said it…and it rolls off the tongue just as easy as it rolls into our lives. To a procrastinator, delaying is its best friend and without continuous, consistent behavior, that thought of “I’m going start tomorrow never comes”

Consistency is a skill that needs daily practice, just like anything else in our lives.

They say, it usually takes 21 days to make something a habit, “so they say.” The real challenge is to stay consistent with this consistency. We often get demotivated and lose insight due to “life happens situations”, which is okay; again, we are only human.

Set Realistic Goals:

It’s essential to have a goal in the first place to be consistent. Being consistent towards nothing just makes no sense. The rule is this goal should be realistic. For example;

You want to lose weight, and here you are, considering the diet, exercise, and good sleeping patterns, etc. But still, you must keep in mind that nothing is going to change overnight. Visible transformation takes time and patience, patience, patience and more patience. “yes, I said patience 4 times”

IMPORTANT TIP!

Avoid trying to do everything in a single day, because if you do, this may lead to you getting frustrated on day two or three, and before you know it, you have thrown in the towel on day four. I am guilty of this, and I am pretty sure I am not alone on this one.

So, take it one day at a time, be focused, and keep practicing.

Schedule Time Slots and Set Reminders:

Listen, we all got smartphones that we’ve paid a rent payment for that are equipped with calendars and note reminders. Personally, google calendars save my life.

As we tend to forget our newly set goals easily, having a constant reminder of them is crucial. It can be by the source of an app or just plain old sticky notes everywhere, i.e., on your tv, laptops, sleeping area, or any place or space where you spend most of the time in leisure. The constant visual of these reminders will help you to keep on track with your goals.

Make Promises, Keep Them and Reward Yourself:

We all like gifts; there is no sweeter gift than one you give to yourself. Rewarding yourself for reaching a milestone helps builds self-confidence and creates a sense of accomplishment.

“You can’t change anything, can’t do anything if you, yourself, aren’t ready to change.”

Give Yourself a Margin:

Going back to “life happens situations”, sometimes we must leave room for disappointment. Nobody is perfect, and mistakes are bound to happen. Unfortunately, we live in a world today where people will judge you for your mistakes before they praise you for your accomplishments. Be okay with that…..like really…. because the first time will not be the last time. Find a way to source that criticism whether negative or positive into fuel and produce something great with it.

Meditation:

Who in the present day is unaware of the word Meditation? Well if you don’t know, then you need to “get into it” I highly recommend meditation. It truly helps to evaporate the confusion in your mind and helps you become more focused. I was shockingly surprised at how much more productive I was after “consistently” mediating for 15-30mins a day. Trust and believe; if it can help me, it can help anybody.

Accountability:

I am going to be honest about this one guys…I am not going to say I don’t like accountability, but I don’t like accountability. But for consistency to work in your life, it is needed. It’s difficult to hold oneself accountable and if your struggling with consistency, your friend procrastination is right around the corner waiting for you with open arms and a big smile too. A mentor would be a great help in this avenue. This is a person that you look up to for knowledge and guidance, a person you respect, trust and understand the person that you are to help keep you on track with your goals.

Changing your thinking pattern:

How bad do you want it? Honestly?

What are the sacrifices you must take to be able to accomplish that goal? Are you ready, willing, and able to stay consistent on that road? What will it take for you to consistently be consistent on your journey to your heart’s desire? Answering these questions also comes with a mindset change. You cannot get to level two with level one thinking; your thoughts must elevate.

Issa Vibe 🙂