{"id":53919,"date":"2021-11-08T11:54:00","date_gmt":"2021-11-08T15:54:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/?p=53919"},"modified":"2021-11-15T13:34:10","modified_gmt":"2021-11-15T17:34:10","slug":"how-to-build-consistency","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/how-to-build-consistency\/","title":{"rendered":"The Power of Showing up: How to Build Consistency"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

What is one thing you want to achieve that requires consistent effort? Can you think of a time when staying consistent<\/a> with one small behavior or habit helped you achieve something big?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Big, ambitious goals<\/a> require consistent effort to become reality. In other words, they require that you consistently show up to contribute towards them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this article, you’ll learn how to build consistency in your efforts to grow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

The Power of Showing Up <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

To develop consistency in a behavior, your must first determine how this behavior contributes to your goal and then take the first step to pursuing it. For example, if you want to become a psychologist, you have to apply for school and consistently show up to class. Consistently showing up is the first step to achieving your goal, as no progress can occur without it. After all, you can\u2019t go on a journey if you don\u2019t show up to the train station.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why We Resist Taking the First Step<\/strong> 

Showing up and taking the first step in pursuing a goal is arguably harder than Olson allows for. Most of us can probably remember a time when we delayed getting started on something (or chose not to start it altogether). 

It\u2019s possible that a large part of our resistance to getting started is a fear that if we try, we will fail.<\/a> When we experience failure, we also experience shame, which is painful. As a result, we often choose not to put ourselves in the position to fail in the first place. However, while choosing not to try might protect us from failure, it also prevents us from experiencing the joy of success. 

Keep these strategies in mind next time you want to overcome fear-based resistance to getting started on something:

Remind yourself that people are more worried about their own failures than they are about yours. <\/strong>People are usually thinking about themselves, not about you. Remembering this allows you to release the fear of judgment that keeps you from taking action towards success.

Don\u2019t overthink. <\/strong>The more you overthink preparing to start your goal, the more overwhelmed you will feel, and the less likely you are to take action. Keeping your thoughts about your plans simple helps you to get out of your head and into action more quickly.

Reframe your anxiety. <\/strong>Think of it as a muscle you\u2019re training yourself to work through and work with, rather than a hindrance. This helps you to develop the confidence to pursue your goals<\/a> even when you\u2019re afraid. <\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Be Consistent and Stay Committed<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Next, Olson suggests that you commit to showing up for your goals on a consistent basis. <\/strong>Taking the first step on its own isn\u2019t enough\u2014the more consistent you are with your efforts to achieve something, the more likely you are to achieve it. For instance, if you want strong arm muscles, you can\u2019t just do one push-up. You have to do push-ups consistently<\/em>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Build Consistency Using the \u201cSeinfeld Strategy\u201d<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Do you want to learn how to build consistency in your efforts to grow? Let\u2019s explore the strategy of Jerry Seinfeld, one of the most consistently successful comedians of all time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Seinfeld has always produced his work at a steady, productive rate. (He may not always produce his best<\/em> work, but he is at least consistent in his output.) According to young comedians who\u2019ve discussed consistency with Seinfeld, his strategy is simple:<\/a> He writes every single day, and every day that he writes, he marks an \u201cx\u201d on the corresponding day on a calendar. Overall, he follows one rule: Don\u2019t break the chain of productive days. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can follow this strategy with any<\/em> goal using the following steps:<\/p>\n\n\n\n