Consistency is Key

Virtually everyone has something they would like to improve on whether it’s their diet, endurance, or even public speaking skills. Most improvements in our life require discipline, which takes us out of our comfort zone and into a new way of doing things. As the saying goes, “If you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always get what you’ve always got.”

We have all been there, a spark of inspiration occurs, a rush of motivation, and we are determined. In our minds at that moment, there is no turning back. Tomorrow, we will start our more focused, driven, and goal oriented lifestyle. How quickly that energy fades and we soon find ourselves back in old habits feeling a sense of failure once more, awaiting the next surge of enthusiasm.

As a personal trainer, I see many of my clients ride this very roller coaster. The problem is that many of us rely on the emotional drive of motivation to keep us going. The reality is that life is unpredictable and situations we come across can sap our energy and emotional “oomph”. As a fitness motivator, I strongly understand how motivation can only take you so far. While it is essential in the beginning to have an intrinsic motivation to accomplish your personal goal, it is not the only piece of the puzzle. It is the consistency in discipline that will manifest the results you are looking for.

“Motivation is what gets you started, habit is what keeps you going.” – Jim Ryun (3x U.S. Olympic Champion)

The challenges of consistency are plenty and so we must prepare for the battle by becoming aware the obstacles ahead. The first problem in the art of consistency is our ability to be kings and queens of excuses. If your goal is to lose weight through eating a healthy diet and exercising regularly, don’t allow yourself to say it’s okay to skip out on your morning cardio because you are “too tired this morning”, or “you’ll do more tomorrow” or “it won’t happen again”. This type of deception will lead to more exceptions in the future despite any self-assurance otherwise. Whenever actions are performed, tendencies are reinforced. Then they are nurtured into full-blown habits. Keeping our actions on track with our goal is essential for them to become healthy habits that will lead us straight to success. There are no excuses!

Another issue is self-deception. Lying to yourself, whether stretching or twisting the truth, distorts your grasp on the reality of your goal. Being able to realize your weaknesses and admit to them is important when making a lifestyle change. For example: If your weakness is social events where the treats are free and plentiful, you must prepare to either eat a healthy meal before going so you are not tempted to indulge, or take along a healthy dish that you know is safe and will allow you to socially eat with your friends. Being aware of your weaknesses and temptations will help you prepare a strategy of resistance.

The third obstacle is the deep belief that your goal has importance. Who would work hard for something that is not important? If you don’t have a deep-rooted understanding of why you want to accomplish your goal, it is likely to get lost in the chaos of life and forgotten. Something that is truly important takes precedence over other things when a decision must be made. When that piece of birthday cake gets passed your way you will know that your fitness goal is more important than your taste buds; the decision will be simple. You’ll pass on the sugar rush and opt for the veggie platter with a smile.

Every person holds the potential to succeed and be great at whatever his or her life mission may be. However, in order to unlock that potential an everyday decision must be made to continue down the path towards achieving that goal. It is an ongoing process towards success and it requires consistent focused energy and zeal. So find that passion and determination inside of you, somewhere that the ever changing circumstances of life cannot touch. Go back to that place every day and refocus your energies with an unwavering mind and you are on your way to amazing victory at whatever you put your mind to.