WELLNESS--One thing that I have learned with almost 50 years under my belt is that consistency is the key to living a more satisfying and successful life. I’ve also figured out that being consistent always wins over hard work.
The problem that many of us have in life is that we lack consistency in certain areas. We tend to work hard for periods of time … whether it be at our job or an exercise regimen … then we often slack off afterwards because we feel burned out or tired.
When we overdo it in any area of our life it only makes sense that we’ll eventually lose momentum. Even with diets, we tend to be extreme for short periods to get the results we desire but the strict discipline is difficult to keep up and we end up gaining all of the weight back soon afterwards.
Moderate and consistent effort wins every time. People have often asked me how I have stayed fit throughout my life and my answer is always the same … consistency. I don’t push too hard, I never have, and I have worked out 4-6 days per week since I was 13. Almost 37 years of consistent fitness has gotten me amazing results. While there were certainly times that I didn’t enjoy it, not once did I find it hard work.
While I have not been consistent in all areas, I definitely have the fitness and health component covered. None of us can be balanced in all areas of our life at all times and many of us put more emphasis in certain areas over others. But if we could learn to redistribute that effort into all parts of our day-to-day life from our spiritual practice to our work to relationships and our healthy lifestyle habits, we’d enjoy more stability and a smoother ride throughout.
Like brushing our teeth, doing something regularly and creating a routine makes it easier to continue. The longer we go without consistent action, the harder it is to get back to it. For example, have you taken time off from your exercise routine only to have months go by without doing anything? Have you avoided regular decluttering from your home only to quickly see things pile up in front of your eyes? Perhaps you notice that when you eat unhealthy foods regularly your body begins craving more unhealthy foods the longer you go.
Our spiritual and mental health also requires routine. When we run our spiritual batteries low, we become stressed, tired, overwhelmed, and grumpy. Committing to a daily gratitude and meditation practice for example, even for a few minutes per day will make the difference in how we feel.
When we act consistently it also gives us a sense of pride that we are taking care of ourselves and our life. We gain a self-reliance and confidence that we are committed to greatness and to being our best selves and we prove that we can in fact, do whatever we set our minds to.
The next time you find yourself slipping in any of the important areas of your life, stop, take a breath, and make a different choice. Push yourself if necessary and refocus your energy. Often the beginning is the most challenging but once over that initial hurdle, you’re set to go.
Sometimes just the simple awareness that we are off track or inconsistent is enough to snap us back into a new way of thinking, one that encourages us to keep moving forward towards our ultimate happiness and success in all that we do.
Consistency is the key. Beginning NOW.
(Jay Bradley is a Youthful Aging, Wellness & Lifestyle Expert Living in Los Angles. http://www.JayBradleyLifestyle.com. He is the Best-Selling Author of LIVE LOOK FEEL, The 12-Week Guide to Live Longer, Look Younger & Feel Better!)
-cw
