Many talk about consistency, but few show what it looks like.
Consistency is the open secret in the secret sauce. It’s the short, polished part in the movie with the inspiring music as the hero prepares to meet the enemy. It’s what you need to learn Italian, deal with your inner critic, start each day with meditation, or make the daily green smoothie a habit.
I, for one, would like to have a better idea of what I’m looking for. You know, what it really is, the nitty gritty, unpolished version. Because when I’m doing my own thing (and I have a several on my list), it’s easy to get lost, lose steam and give up.
To avoid the possibility of butchering Italian, let’s make green smoothies to see consistency in action. After hunting for details and reading between the lines, here’s my take: a full-frontal, no-gauze curtain look at what consistency looks like in real life.
Day 0: Wooot! I got my gear, I’m set, I’m excited. Let’s DO this!!
Day 1: Make smoothie. Check. I rock.
Day 2: Didn’t sleep well last night, but the smoothie won’t cut it. Still, I’ll do it. Check.
Day 3: Okay, I got this. Smoothie done. I’m hanging in.
Day 4: I’m stressed out. I’m in no mood for this. What I really want is a donut. Makes smoothie.
Day 5: WTF. Why did I do this? Oh yeah, to lose those extra pounds I don’t like. Makes smoothie.
Day 6: Gotta take the kids early today, no time to make a smoothie. (makes smoothie at night)
Day 7: This is just not happening. Is it even worth it? I WANT pancakes. Makes smoothie.
Day 8: Hmm. Made it a whole week. Maybe there’s hope for me. Makes smoothie.
Day 9: Life sucks. Lost that big account…and bonus. Makes smoothie.
Day 10: (hugs spouse and kids hard, says I love you). Makes smoothie.
Day 11: My gym workout was good today, at least. Makes smoothie.
Day 12: Long hours at work this week. That other account looks promising…not as big, but… Makes smoothie.
Day 13: Meh, didn’t think I’d make it so far. Not too shabby for a beginner. Makes smoothie.
Day 14: Two weeks! TWO WEEKS. Hmm. Stop or keep going? Makes smoothie.
Consistency means showing up on a regular basis and and sticking it out even when the voice in our head says otherwise. Or as Charles Starrett put it: we’re free to feel however we want, but while we’re feeling whatever we’re feeling, we still need to be doing the work.
The good news is that doing the work is easier that dealing with the feelings about doing the work.
And that doing part is how you make shift happen.
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