Consistency is the one thing standing in between mediocrity and excellence. The difference between the one who reaches heights never reached before, and the one who stays stagnant, is their discipline in consistency. Quite frankly, consistency is one of the hardest things I have yet to master. So, if you are one who allows a lack of consistency to get in the way of you becoming great, then this post is for you! 

Now, at the root of consistency are three major themes that all work together. The themes are commitment, integrity and discipline. These three themes are a recipe for consistency and can start to be developed with these 3 tips.

This post isn’t the post that’s going to tell you why you need to wake up at 6 am or why you don’t need to have rest days etc., however it will give tips on how to fix your mind on the behavioral patterns that will allow you to  fulfill what you are called to fulfill. God has given each human being a purpose to accomplish, and he will also equip us with the necessary skills, resources, people etc to fulfill our purpose. We on the other hand have to make sure that we are not getting in our way of fulfilling the purpose God has given us by not practicing consistency. 

The Lord is the same yesterday, today and forever more—that’s some huge consistency!!! Because we are made in the image of God, we have to believe that we have the discipline to be consistent somewhere deep in the mix of our inconsistency. We know who we are because of who our father is, and if he is consistent; it’s possible for us to be consistent also.

So let’s get into the three themes and tips that will help you develop the behavioral patterns needed to be consistent. 

The first pattern is commitment. At the root of inconsistency is a lack of commitment. A commitment is a bond to complete what you have started, yet I know so many of us including myself start things and then just fall off. To be committed we have to believe that we can first be committed. The first tip that will help you be consistent using the theme of commitment is to practice, ideate, create or plan on whatever commitment you have made to yourself EVERYDAY. If you need to grace yourself, you can start off by 2 days a week, or 3 days a week etc; but it’s best to touch your commitment daily so you can build the habit of pushing past discomfort and laziness that influences inconsistency. 

When you decide to work on your commitment daily, you are training your brain to incorporate your commitment into your future thoughts; therefore if your commitment is incorporated in your thoughts, then it will be incorporated in your actions. It’s all about building disciplines that will become a habit instead of temporary plans that are likely to fall off at the earliest convenience. 

Pattern number two is integrity. Integrity is needed to serve as the conviction to remain honest by any means necessary. A conviction to remain honest by any means necessary starts by remaining honest with yourself. The second tip that will help you build integrity is to practice the scripture Mathew 5:37 (New English Version).

A yes is a promise and a no is a promise. It’s important to learn the integrity of keeping your word. If you practice not keeping your word to other people, you will definitely continue to not keep your word even with yourself. Michelle Obama did say “your word is your bond!” If you can’t keep your word, then you can’t build trust with others and yourself. You have to trust that you are capable of committing and capable of practicing integrity of keeping your word by depending on the strength of God. If you don’t trust that God will equip you to uphold your promises, then that becomes a direct correlation to whether or not you become disciplined to complete what you start. 

Finally, the third theme is discipline. Discipline defiles the will to not stay true to your word and your commitment. Discipline defiles laziness, it defiles discomfort and pain, and defiles the subtle discouragement that hinders our belief that we can fulfill what we start in the first place. The third tip that will help you build discipline is to have an accountability partner. We’ve already went over staying committed to your goal and practicing integrity to follow through; but accountability is that final straw needed for others to check whether you are staying true to your commitment and your word. Without accountability, it’s easy to do what we want when we want because “who’s watching,” or “who cares.” 

Accountability adds that extra layer of thoroughness needed for excellence. Once you have accountability, you then start to practice all three themes together. You practice commitment because you have to stay true to what you said you would do, or your accountability partner will find out and your lack of consistency will be exposed. You practice integrity because if you fall through on the bond of your word, then you fall through on your overall consistency which will expose yourself again. And you practice discipline because having an extra set of eyes will basically force you to level up and push past anything that will stop you from fully committing to your purpose. 

It’s a mind thing. We have to believe, so we can then act on our beliefs and do. You are so capable of becoming consistent, committed, disciplined and of integrity. Anything or anyone who tells you otherwise is simply a lie. Try these tips out and let me know how they work for you. I know you’re ready to reach the greatness that is already inside of you. Continue to flourish and share with me your thoughts below! Enjoy.

Live Simply,

Shardae