Consistency is the key

On November 1, 2012 I began to run on a regular basis.  Before then I just ran a little here or there, but nothing consistent.  However, from November 1, 2012 I set a goal was to reach 50 miles a month.  Now, 2 years later, I have run over 1,200 miles.

I’ve had a few people hear about what I’ve been doing and say, “You should run a 5k or marathon” or “you should try to push yourself to do more than just 50”.  Although I appreciate the encouragement from them to go higher and do more, the reality is I’m not about races and pushing my body to do more than I can handle.  I know my body, I know my life and I know what I can handle.

I’ve also had a few ask me, “how do you do it?”.  That, believe it or not has been the easy part.  I’ve been able to maintain this because I developed a pattern of running in my life.  I consistently ran to get the miles in.  Because of that consistency, I have been able to keep the routine.

See, not only have I been consistently running, but I have been consistently been doing other things as well.  One of them is in reading the Bible…to the point when I miss a day, I feel it, I know something is missing.  I’ve been consistently staying away from porn as well.  I can’t tell you the last time I looked at porn, not because it’s embarrassing to share but because it’s been a long time. Have I been tempted? You bet!  But because I was consistent at avoiding it, I have been able to develop a strategy for me to consistently not look.

But, in the same way, if you are consistently doing unhealthy things, you will be successful at damaging yourself.  You consistently eat bad food, you’ll become very unhealthy.  It may not hurt you in the short term but definitely in the long term.  If you are consistently looking at porn or inappropriate sites

When you develop consistency at something, you win…or lose unfortunately.

“AA” has a motto, one day at a time.  If you desire to develop consistency at something positive, you have to start with one day at a time.  I’ve even talked about it before as my motto has been for some time “win the day“.  I have found thinking and focusing short term, rather than long term has made me most successful in achieving my goals.

Here is reality, you can’t develop consistency if you never start.  So what can you become consistent at? Know yourself, know your life and know what you can handle.  Then, figure out something that you desire to do and start doing it.  Develop a plan for you to be consistent at and start striving for it.

On your mark, get set, GO!