CONSISTENT looks like …

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. 

Hebrews 13:8 (New Living Translation)

I would consider myself consistent in a few areas of my life.  I tend to go to the same restaurants and order the same thing.  When I go outlet shopping, I head straight to the stores I more than likely may find something I like and buy.  My trips to the supermarket include pushing my cart the entire perimeter and never the aisles.  These constants in my life have been helpful in keeping me right on track and maintain focus.  As I tell my friends, “Why fix what’s not broke?”

My productivity is predicated on consistency.  It is said, “the key to success is consistency”.  If I break out of my routine, then I’m much more likely to go completely off the rails.  Perhaps developing new habits that can be harmful to me and others.

I have been referred to as a “creature of habit” and most times “predictable”.  For a long time, I took great offense to those terms because it seemed my comfort and patterns of behavior were a bad thing.  My consistency didn’t appear to hurt anyone. In fact, it seemed to be more helpful and encouraging to others.  In exploring the definitions of consistent, I uncovered:

I have developed a new consistency in my morning routine which includes reading my Bible and spending time in prayer and devotion before I get out of bed in the morning.  I set the alarm 1 hour earlier to accommodate snoozing or capturing another 15 minutes of rest.  But ultimately, the goal is to not get out of bed until I have turned to my daily devotion and communed with God for those first moments.  It is my time I’ve committed to God to share my gratitude for waking me up and giving me a fresh new start.

In times of change, one thing remains the same – God and His love for you.  You can hold on to that no matter where you are in the world, what your circumstances are, or what choices you have made.  God’s nature is consistent and unchanging · God’s plans and purpose are consistent and unchanging

Establishing consistency or maintaining it is a process which can be challenging.  Is it tough for you to develop new habits?  Think about it…You become fixated on the desired outcome.  You primarily focus more on the result versus staying devoted to the process.  Take for example your new year’s resolution to get in better shape.  For the first ten days or so, driven by your motivation to meet your goal, you work on your new passion every single day. But then you gradually start skipping your practice. A day here. A day there. Before you know it, the gym membership has lapsed, the equipment is in the closet, and you are questioning / second guessing your intensions.

And the cycle begins all over again.

In the meantime, while you are ruminating over God’s love and attention for you, here are a few tips to get your started on developing a life of consistency in the areas that matter most to you.

1. Be present.  Don’t spend the entire time you are exercising focusing on the 2-piece bathing suit you will be wearing.  Instead, focus on your heartbeat, the sweat, the movements of your body, etc.  The goal can inspire but it should never take the place of the effort you are putting forward.
2. Anticipate the Dip.  Author Seth Godin in his book The Dip, mentions that anything worth pursuing will have a messy middle.  Usually the first sign of “the Dip” is near the beginning when we have managed to accomplish one the goals.  At the first sign of fitting into those skinny jeans, we dip into a pint of Haggen Daaz ice cream.
3. Uninspired?  Do it anyway!   This one is, by far the most difficult.  Again, using the gym scenario, the circumstances may not be exactly right. It’s raining out, or perhaps you simply have no energy to get out of bed.  Worry less about the situation and focus on the opportunities toward being successful.  Before long, inspiration will come to you naturally.
4. Go back to basics.  I can speak to this directly because on many occasions, I have had to return to the plan and start from the very beginning. During my college days, I dreaded study groups and the eyes on me when I missed a chapter.  To avoid the shame, I would hide away in my room by myself.  But all that did was give me another excuse to not read.  Confronting the basics allows for you to get back into the rhythm of things and back on track.
5. Find an accountability partner.  My greatest successes have been because of identifying the one person in whom I trusted to hold me accountable.  My accountability partners have encouraged me, driven me further, provided advice, inspiration, and competitive edge.  On many occasions, getting out of bed to head to the gym or on the court for tennis is more about seeing them than it is about the game.
6. Forgive yourself and move on.  YES…you will slip.  YES…you will dip.  YES…you will forget why you are doing what you are doing.  Give yourself permission to slip, dip, and forget and then forgive yourself.  You are allowed to have setbacks. It will happen.  No one is perfect. The greatest achievement is the ability to get back up and move. 

Ultimately, find joy in the process. Ask yourself, are you ready to start making traction in your endeavors? Be consistent. Be present, expect hardships, and do the work. Take your health, your relationships, your career to the next level.

And enjoy the ride on your way there.

…now what, Linda