The Key to Results: Consistency!
by Taylor Smith, CHOP5 Wellness & Nutrition Blogger
Have you ever felt sick of your own bull$h*t? Do you desperately want to be the best version of yourself? To level up? To truly take care of yourself in all aspects?
No, I can’t read minds, but I do know that most people want to work on themselves but cannot follow through.
I think the hardest part about choosing to work on yourself is starting something new. Whether it’s from eating a balanced diet and everything in moderation to exercising, expanding your friend circle, strengthening relationships, exploring new hobbies and more!
There are various reasons why bettering yourself may seem so daunting at first:
- Stepping out of your comfort zone is scary.
- It requires you to be honest with yourself and address things you want to work on (accepting that we are not perfect can be difficult).
- Breaking bad/unhealthy habits seems like a lot of time and effort.
- Comparing your journey and progress to others can be discouraging.
The Secret to Leveling Up
I’ll let you in on a little secret! Choosing to work on yourself does NOT have to be daunting at all! A crucial lesson I learned is that if you want to see results and be successful in anything, you need to be what most people are not: CONSISTENT.
Consistency is the key to changing your life. To changing your mindset and how you perceive each day. To changing or achieving what you want.
Why Many People Fail on Their “Consistency Journeys”
Now after hearing that, most people want to be consistent, but they tend to do one of two things.
- They simply wish for it to happen and never do anything about it.
OR
- They do something about it then quit when they don’t see results right away or are inconsistent with their actions.
We must choose to be consistent in our actions and do what most people are not willing to do.
Advice to Be Consistent
Now you may ask ‘how do I be consistent?’. So, here is some advice to be consistent:
- Know your “why”. Why do you want to be a better version of yourself? How do you want to feel?
- Remember that “little by little” things add up. All the good and all the bad things add up. They eventually become the big things. It all matters, so choose your actions wisely. Every day counts.
- Be honest with yourself and name what you want to work on. Acknowledge your weaknesses.
- Ask for help/guidance to make a realistic plan for yourself! Set goals and reflect on your progress or what you need to do better.
- Bettering yourself is not a linear journey. There are ups and downs. Relapses to old habits. Tears. Moments of anger and frustration. It’s very important to have grace with yourself and forgive your mistakes. Never give up.
- You must commit to the process, even when it’s ugly. Even when you can’t see the light at the end of the tunnel. As cliché as it sounds, trust the process!
- Do not compare yourself to others. Everyone’s journey, progress and results look different.
- You cannot be afraid of looking silly or “failing” at first. It will become easier over time.
- You must be willing to make sacrifices. Be purposeful in what you say yes or no to. In what you give your time and energy to. Some people may not understand it, but it doesn’t matter what they think.
- Bettering yourself is not “all or nothing”. Yes, you need to have discipline, intentions and boundaries, but you can have all of that while still having balance.
Words to Remember!
Although there may be moments where you question things, I promise you it will all be worth it. Consistency will lead you to many smiles, good times, grateful moments and more. I’ll leave you with this to remember: you cannot see changes until you’re in a different space…but you can only be in a different space if you keep going…
New Year’s Intentions Update
This month I reflected on my new year’s intentions and was happy to see that I have been fulfilling my intention of eating a balanced diet. For instance, I went to the Jersey shore with some friends, and we went on the boardwalk and got some fudge. Instead, of restricting myself from eating the fudge, I allowed myself to eat it AND with no guilt! It was mouthwateringly good in case you were wondering. I’m very proud of myself for realizing that I can live a healthy lifestyle, eat healthy salads, and have balance. It is not “all or nothing”. Treating myself is very important and allows me to maintain my healthy/balanced lifestyle for the long run!
P.S. My favorite fudge flavors are salted caramel and chocolate coconut! Highly recommend.