Monthly Mindset, April 2021: Consistency
CONSISTENCY
We spend a considerable amount of time pondering ways to break ourselves from routine. Spontaneity is often seen as the root of happiness, as if the world is aligning and purely random acts of kindness, care, or excitement mean that we are truly riding the wave. Could we be more intentional about these things instead of leaving them up to chance? What if instead of the dreaded “routine”, we set positive reinforcers in place to perpetuate good habits and productivity?
Consistency is much different than complacency. Radically different, for that matter. Complacency is when you throw in the towel because the things happening to you are “too big” or “out of your control”, so you roll over and just exist. Complacency is when you momentarily give up and let the world dictate your life, which means accepting the fact that you have become stagnant. On the opposite end of the spectrum, consistency – as I am choosing to see it this month – means you’re hitting deadlines, keeping up with your goals, and working each & every day towards a broader mission. You can still optimize things in your daily life but keeping that baseline intact will ultimately lead to the consistent 25 PPG, 9.5 RPG, and 25.4 PER statline you’re seeking. Too specific of an NBA ref? Basically, you’re firing on all cylinders and contributing to yourself & your surroundings on a daily/nightly basis.
It took quite a few conversations to come to this iteration of the My Monthly Mindset. I really didn’t know what I was looking for, but the common denominator was that I was in a great groove. Me being the unsatisfied and self-overworked person that I am thought I needed to do more, when in actuality, it was this approach that suits me best. I had pages of notes with a billion words and phrases etched into the margins before Barry led me to the zenith. I gave him my spew, and to my question of “dude, what the hell am I getting after?” he responded simply; “consistency.”
It was my eureka moment; rather than feel as if we aren’t doing enough, why not look at the body of work at play in this moment, continue moving forward, and introduce new things as an addition to all the good shit going on right now? I’m constantly seeking new ways to better myself, and sometimes, that’s to a fault. After all, I’m human and not Jeff Bezos.
Think of all the things in your life that are positive. Concentrating on those elements will create a nice linear path of light to guide you through the other bullshit. Take inventory of the good and think of ways to keep the ball rolling. If you’re on a nice wave of fitness, what could you do to stay motivated? If you’re operating at a high level in your job, how can you maintain excellence? If you’re getting good grades as the semester comes to a close, how can you stay the course and lead yourself into finals beastmode?
Consistency is key this month because the summer will be absolutely bonkers. We’re gearing up for the resurrection of social life, so stay on the track this month and move decisively.