This is what consistency looks like.
This past week was anything but easy. There were plenty of obstacles that came my way, being on call for the whole week 24/7, rounding at the hospital etc. I had to get my training in so I changed my plan up and decided to do 10 miles on the treadmill every day for a week… 10 x 7 gets me my 70 miles for the week.
As I imagine you are plagued with the same issue, the mind. Its voice is very loud. I had a litany of excuses that popped up. My mind is very good at creating “reasons to not do it”. This was more about pushing through and getting it done. Overcome the noise and make it happen.
If anyone had reasons to not exercise it would have been this me for this past week.
The list was near endless.
Yet I am reminded that discipline is about doing what you hate, and doing it like you love it, at least till you truly learn to love it. Just like one cannot learn how to swim about reading about water from a book, action is key to get the body conditioned.
I find that at times, discipline is not the problem, but the systems I am in are undisciplined, causing the brain to follow a different programming. These systems have been created from a lifetime of habits, molded by social and familial and cultural perceptions and perspectives, largely opinions of others that keep us where we are. It takes a significant effort to break the bonds of the neurons that hold these concepts in our consciousness.
I have always said that habits breed consistency and consistency generates discipline. It is through the mundane that the spark emerges. It was always there, yet given the right fodder, it grows. The routine not only brings stability but it brings consistent growth, provided of course that the routine is on the trajectory of healthy lifestyle outcomes. Equally so, the consistent and habitual routine of “bad” habits will lead to eventual unsuccessful outcomes in the long run, such as smoking, alcohol, lack of exercise, drugs, medications to name but a few.
It was not easy to get up at 4am each day and head to the treadmill in the cold basement, especially when the warm bed was so much more inviting. Yet it was on the challenge of my plan. I was determined to breakthrough any residual mindsets that would push me to say “give up”. Day 4,5 were certainly hard but Day 7 was the hardest. Why? I mean after all I was almost there at the very end. That is exactly why it was the hardest. It is so easy to just say “well I have done enough in the last 6 days so would know if I skipped it”. “ You have worked hard so as a reward skip the last day ! “ The mind plays these little subtle tricks that can catch us off guard, leading down the primrose path of destruction.
One cookie can’t hurt. One skipped day of exercise is good for us. One more glass of soda or alcohol should be fun. One more cigarette and THEN I can quit. Give it an inch and the mind takes a mile.
This is not about inspiring you to do 10 miles a day, though certainly you are welcome to do it. It is not even about doing 1 mile a day of walking or running. Each of us are unique individuals with our own set of priorities. So whatever that may be or look like, it is key for us to start and be consistent with that goal. Whether it is writing one page a day to generate that book, or read 10 pages a night to become more educated about a topic, 10 squats a day to build stronger hips, to save $10 a day to build wealth. Small habits will yield tremendous results.
Many a time we do not do things or take action on goals because we are scared. The prescription for this is simple. Do one thing that scares you each day, and keep doing it till you are completely comfortable doing it. That is the sign of evolution.
This is a script that can be applied to any area of our lives, physical or mental health, spiritual practices, meditation, nutritional development, financial and wealth building, relationship and social influence, career enhancement. Find the right habit that will get you the greatest amount of success and fine tune that with a healthy dose of discipline. Anything is possible.
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I love you
