Monday Mindset
The Courage of Consistency
As we welcome the start of a new week (the last week of September already!), let’s give attention to the things that matter.
This past weekend marked the Fall Equinox—the time when we move into the months of shedding and preparing for rest. It’s the perfect time to follow nature’s cues. Just as the squirrels forage their food supply for winter, we can ask ourselves what the next season requires of us. Let’s be mindful of the nourishment we’ll need in the coming days, weeks, and months.
It is my hope that this newsletter will supply you with goodness, fresh perspective, and permission for whatever you need in the moment, not only for today, but for each season it finds you.
Without further ado, let’s dive into this week’s intention:
The Courage of Consistency
“Do it again and again. Consistency makes the rain drops to create holes in the rock. Whatever is difficult can be done easily with regular attendance, attention and action.”
Israelmore Ayivor
Consistency. Ah, the unsexiest of trustworthy traits. Or is it actually the most alluring of all? If you consider consistency as the boring part between the exciting start and eventual goal, then yeah, maybe it is. Denzel Washington has something to say about that: “Without commitment, you’ll never start, but more importantly, without consistency, you’ll never finish.” So, yeah, the inspiration and commitment are important. But even more important is the persistence to keep going in the murky middle.
It takes courage to change course. It takes courage to keep going on it too. If we are building new habits, consistency is what will create a new path. If we are turning toward ourselves with compassion instead of ignoring our inner landscape (or being ever critical of what we find), it may feel clunky as we break old patterns. This is where taking small steps over time really will make a difference. We don’t have to change everything at once. We take a little step at a time in the intended direction of where we want to end up.
Consistency does not equal rigidity. It doesn’t mean perfectly showing up the same way day after day. It requires concerted effort, but it is not all or nothing. It is a pattern that builds over time. Keep this in mind so that you continue to show up with compassion, curiosity, and playfulness in your relationship to self.
Here are a few ways you can actively build consistency in your life:
Be true to your word, making sure your words and actions match
Show up authentically in various settings (work, home, the supermarket, etc)
Be communicative consistently
Commit to the process, remembering to focus not only on big changes, but on the little things you can do everyday {small steps can, and do, make huge progress over time}
Steadiness is built through consistency. It is a gift, especially in our relationships (both to others and to ourselves). Sure, it doesn’t always feel good to be consistent. This is true of most things that are good for us. Having a higher perspective of why it is important will help us in following through on these harder days. Sometimes being consistent will look like persistence in the face of resistance.
There is good news if we find ourselves less than happy with our track record of follow through. We are able to create new habits, and to carve out new paths with small steps each day. When we put intention behind our consistent effort, and we show up day after day, movement is made. Momentum builds as we keep going, and we gain greater confidence as we build that inner trust.
Look at the patterns in your life. In what ways has consistency built expectation in others toward you? What expectations do you have of yourself?* Take some time before you move into the rest of your day to look with curiosity and compassion on what your consistency communicates about you.
The practice for this week is to: pick one thing you can do to connect to yourself every day.
The important part here is in the showing up, so make it doable!
If you want to take it directly from the work you’ve begun to explore through expectations, read on…
*If there is a negative expectation either others, or you, have of yourself that you want to reframe or change, look at the opposite of what that would be. What is one small thing you can do every day this week to begin rewriting that story?
Don’t forget to notice the areas of positive things you are already doing consistently (maybe this is where you want to start if you are having trouble with harsh inner criticism). You could take some time every day to write the ways you did show up and follow through (this could be as simple as taking care of yourself - eating a nourishing meal, showering, going to the meeting you were dreading, etc).
Whatever you choose to do each day this week, make it small and achievable so that you can do it every day. (And if you miss a day, reject perfectionism and remember that building a pattern means to keep showing up…so pick up the next day with grace, not guilt!)
This is the last week of our monthly theme on trust. This weekend, you’ll get October’s monthly edition in your inbox, so keep your eyes peeled!
This is excellent and will help me so much.