#14 - HOW TO BE CONSISTENT
Inconsistency is the only thing in which men are consistent.
Horace Smith
Unfortunately, I can relate to the above quote much more than I would like to.
Areas of my life where I can be guilty of inconsistency include:
- Exercising
- Eating Healthy
- Doing chores around the house
- Investing quality time with my wife
- Writing
- Flossing my teeth
And if the truth be told, this actually greatly disappoints me. I can be better than this. Ishould be better than this.
I want to be consistent.
I want to do what I say I am going to do.
I want to remain steadfast in my commitments.
I deeply desire to be a man of my word – dependable and reliable.
How about you?
Do you want a more consistent lifestyle?
Do you desire that your intentions and your actions to, more often than not, be one and the same?
Do you aspire to live a life of greater integrity?
If so, here are 4 steps that I take when I desire to develop a greater level of consistency in a particular area of my life:
Step 1 – Identify the specific area of inconsistency.
Where exactly do you struggle with inconsistency?
- Physically?
- Relationally?
- Spiritually?
- Morally?
- Financially?
Though your area of inconsistency may be hard to face or admit, defining reality is key. As the Scriptures say, “the truth shall set you free.”
Step 2 – Decide to start over.
Make up your mind that starting over is OK.
Make up your mind that starting over is what’s best.
Make up your mind that starting over is what’s necessary.
Nothing happens until a decision is made. In the same way that suicide and homicide involve death to people, to decide means to bring death to all other options.
Step 3 – Take the first step.
If you want to consistently work out, do ONE work out.
If you want to consistently eat well, eat ONE good meal.
If you want to consistently read, read ONE page.
If you want to consistently save money, save ONE dollar.
If you want to consistently pray, pray ONE time.
If you want to consistently help others, help ONE person.
Before you can take 100 steps in a row, you must take ONE.
Step 4 – When you fail, repeat steps 1-3.
You will skip a day.
You will let yourself down.
You will fall back into patterns of inconsistency.
The key question you have to ask yourself when you do fail is this, “How much time will I allow to lapse between the day that I missed and the day that I start over?”
Your answer will determine how consistent of a life that you live.
- Failing and Starting Over Daily = Consistency
- Failing and Starting Over Sporadically = Inconsistency.
In conclusion, I encourage you to imagine a lifestyle in which, each day, you take just ONE step in the area of life in which you desire to be more consistent. Don’t you sense peace and relief as you execute that ONE step? Don’t you sense a greater level of satisfaction and fulfillment? Isn’t the ONE step worth it?