The Power of Consistent Action

INTRODUCTION

“It’s a simple and generous rule of life that whatever you practice, you will improve at. ~ Elizabeth Gilbert

One thing you need to know from the foregoing is that the life you live has its ups and downs. Even though sometimes it looks like a roller coaster ride, it’s part of living in this world, and we are eagerly searching for ways to be more consistent in our dealings on the face of the earth.

It was Marie Forleo that said, “Success doesn’t come from what you do occasionally, it comes from what you do consistently.” With consistency, you will have an easier time maintaining relationships with your family members and friends, meeting your goals, and performing well in school or at work.

However, this assertion doesn’t come as a surprise as many of us know that consistent actions will provide the results we’re looking for in life. Even so…we still struggle with consistency, and unfortunately, there are a lot of people who have trouble being consistent in life.

Why is it so hard to overcome lack of consistency? That’s the question we intend to resolve here as we illuminate your heart. Lack of consistency as we know can be incredibly frustrating and painful. We know that consistency is the key to progress in all areas of our lives, but somehow, we continue to falter and fail. The only thing you find yourself being consistent at is starting something, then stopping before you get any results. You never ever complete a task no matter how greatly inspiring at the onset. You may beat yourself up for this, but there’s hope. This hope comes from first understanding why we fall into these cycles and then taking the necessary steps to overcome the potential pitfalls.

I have discovered from experience that many people struggled with the pursuance of their set goals. Several writers have concluded that consistency is one of the obstacles they face. Many times, when we set goals, we’re too focused on motivation. When we’re motivated, we naturally create a full-blown plan of how we’re going to achieve our goals, and that plan is typically extreme. So – maybe for a few days or even weeks, we’re able to maintain our motivation and keep up with the intense plan we made. But then we lose our motivation, life gets in the way, and we feel discouraged that we didn’t stay consistent with the unrealistic intensive plan we set way back when we were motivated.

That’s why Harvey Mackay says, “If you are persistent, you will get it. If you are consistent, you will keep it.” This quote applies to some of the world’s greatest athletes and leaders. The people who have made a real impact and left their mark are not necessarily the most talented or the most intelligent; they are the most consistent.

Michael Jordan, one of the best basketball players of all time, didn’t make his varsity team on the first try. Throughout his career, he counted the number of times he failed: 300 lost games and he missed the game winning shot 26 times. But rather than let his disappointment derail him, he used it to motivate himself. Along with being persistent, he was consistent – practicing day after day, honing his skills, and getting closer to reaching his goals. His consistency was the key to his success.

Friends, consistency is also critical in business. Consistently providing good work and good service builds trust and boosts your credibility. Customers will continue coming back to the companies they can rely on.

So, why is being consistent so important but  difficult for people? Whether you want to write a novel, or lose some kilogramme, it requires consistent effort to reach that goal. If you don’t stay consistently focused, chances are you will revert to old patterns.

I realise that consistency ties directly into building habits that can positively change your behavior. When you’re consistent, you build the momentum you need to get (and stay) motivated and make progress.

Most of our habits are unconscious. Habits are made up of thoughts and behaviors that have become ingrained in our minds. How we act is rooted in what we believe, so to change our behavior, we must first change our mindset.

In this book, you'll have a rethink on what consistency means in your lives and how you can overcome inconsistency. I hope you’re ready because while learning to be consistent, it may not be exciting, but it’s definitely one of the most impactful things you can learn to re-shape your future. I hope you are prepared to go with me on this expedition.