How Consistency Can Help You Achieve the Results You Want
Goals, Dreams, Desires
We all have goals that we dream of achieving, some of us may want to start exercising and lose weight, some may want to learn a new language, some may want to write a book or perhaps even start the business that we have been dreaming about. Getting from where we currently are to where we want to be can be rather challenging and perhaps sometimes it can be scary so we may feel like resisting. Therefore, one may ask the question is “how can consistency help us achieve the results we want?”
When a person has chosen and clearly defined their new habit, which they fundamentally believe, they start to repeat it on a daily or weekly basis. Repetition is a very important aspect to achieving results however, it is more of a process of transition. Transition, which is defined as the process or a period of changing from one state or condition to another, is what happens when one utilizes consistency as their strategy. One does not just repeat an action repeatedly without being mindful of the entire process. During the whole process, one begins to learn, grow, make necessary modifications to the action in process for habit formation. Consequently, the minor improvements over time create a sense of accomplishment. So, it is safe to say that consistency is repeating a chosen and clearly defined habit repeatedly until new brain patterns are ingrained that they become automatic. What becomes available is a new way of operating without the thinking, deciding, choosing processes.
What Does Consistency Look Like?
Consistency is all about the consistent behaviour, believing it, sticking to it, showing up no matter what; it is the accumulation of all the things, big or small, you do every day that leads to the results. It is a combination of many things as a whole that actually makes the difference rather than one small action itself. Consistency has you be present, prepared and committed without losing focus. You practise being committed to the word you gave rather than the way you may feel in a given moment. It is a process where you utilize “self-discipline” because you are clear on your compelling reason why, the reason why you are doing this.
Current Dilemma
Currently, as sad as it may seem, we live in a society that lives and thrives on instant gratification. We feel X and we do Y, with just a click of a button our desires get immediately fulfilled. We may feel hungry so we order food or we feel bored for a few minutes we turn on the TV or grab our phone for a social media fix. Throughout our lives, it has become ingrained for us to simply expect that whatever we desire will be immediately fulfilled. Even though this is an issue on its own when it comes to fulfilling a goal that is worthy the rules of the game are different. It is not possible to lose fat instantly, it is not possible to master a skill overnight, it isn’t possible to build a six-pack of abs within 24 hours.
Success in any chosen area requires that we initially commit ourselves and take consistent action, which is usually daily, with no obvious reward at the beginning. The satisfaction from the rewards, which will eventually show up as long as you are consistent, require you to put in a lot of effort at the beginning with hardly anything to show for it. This is the breaking point where people struggle with being consistent as most of them don’t hang in there. This is where you must consistently show up and take action over a period of time so that you can get the results you dream off.
Many people grapple with consistency when they fail to see immediate results from all their actions. Simon Sinek, who is a British-American author of the book “start with why”, says “the results are not about intensity, they are about consistency.” He expands by explaining that you simply cannot train for 9 hours at the gym in one go but rather train consistently for shorter periods of time. He further states that it is it hard to measure the results over a short period of time, however, over a longer period of time results are able to be measured.
Motivation Follows Action
When you consistently take action, which is aligned with what you have created, over time you will achieve the results that you have dreamed about. As a result, the results will fulfill your desire and you will feel motivated to continue taking the action. Remember, motivation follows action, not the other way around.
Where in your life do you practice being consistent?
Simon Sinek’s work is truly worth following and I highly recommend his book “Start with Why’.