As I return from the gym for the first time in two weeks, abs aching and mind racing, I'm reminded that consistency is key.
You'd think someone as passionate and driven as I am would also be consistent. Those things go hand in hand, right?
Nope.
I'm fickle in just about every way imaginable. I have great ideas and awesome intentions, but I have terrible follow-through.
EXHIBIT A.
A friend's birthday approaches. I send a card - five days late.
EXHIBIT B.
I dedicate myself to working out. I work out twice a week - at most.
EXHIBIT C.
I commit to reading the Bible daily. I'm still on Day Two of my reading plan. Five days later.
EXHIBIT D.78096
I start podcasts and sermons only to leave them fifteen minutes in, before the pastor drives home the main point of his message.
Honestly, I'm all over the place.
I lack self-control and I lack self-discipline.
Even now, I find myself opening a new tab just to Google the workout Victoria's Secret models do, because I desperately want abs by Christmas. The funny thing is, I'm not consistent enough to have them.
Consistency isn't this great mystery. It's not like wisdom - you don't have to seek it.
You just show up.
Again. And again. And again.
The hard part is, sometimes you're going to see results - maybe you'll get that little baby six pack after eight weeks of consistent exercise. You'll have that glimmer of hope to keep you running towards your goal.
But sometimes you won't. You'll be on day 234 of your daily Bible reading plan and you won't feel anything. You won't see anything happening. On those days, you have to do it anyways. Feelings aside.
"Feelings aside."
That's the part I'm bad at, because EVERYTHING is emotional for me.
I'm a millennial, for Pete's sake. We tend to tether our feelings to whatever we're doing at the moment. Think about it: what do you ask your friend when they tell you they just got a new job?
Usually, you'll ask "How do you like it?"
How will they answer? Nine out of ten times, they'll answer emotionally.
"I love it!!"
"UGH I CAN'T STAND MY MANAGER!!!"
We start to look at life like Netflix. If we like it, we watch it. AKA, we do it. If we don't like it, we don't do it.
Bottom line: you and I are horribly inconsistent.
Personally, I don't want to be remembered as the girl who did things halfway, frustrated and regretful that she never actually accomplished anything because she wasn't consistent.
I want to look back, wipe the sweat from my brow, and sigh contentedly because I disciplined myself enough to achieve my goal. I learned how to say yes day after day, even when it got old, even when my emotions weren't in it.
Consistency starts to look a lot like love after a while. What you love, you constantly, fervently, day after day pursue. What you love, you run after with everything in you.
I want to be consistent.
About Angela
A self-proclaimed "overdramatic weirdo," Angela loves connecting with people (and often embarrassing herself) live on the radio. Some call her a hipster. Others just don't know what to call her. She is recent graduate of Cedarville University with a degree in Broadcasting and background in music business. All it takes is a mention of music, coffee or traveling to get her excited.