# Reflecting on Consistency ##### My 2023 Word of the Year  --- For the past few years (thanks to a brilliant friend of mine), I’ve chosen a ‘word of the year.’ A single word to guide me. To give me direction. To help me focus. My word for 2023 was consistency. [[Embracing Consistency|I originally wrote]]: > “My intentions and goals for 2023 need consistency. Small behaviours that I can repeat again and again and again. > > It’s not about doing something with intensity every once in a while. It’s about ‘showing up’ and actually doing the work on a regular basis. It’s unwavering in my values and beliefs, being a constant in my daily life. > > The more inconsistent I am, the longer it takes me to progress, grow, and see changes. Past experiences have taught me this. Hence, this word is perfect for me right now.” At the start of the year, I was mostly thinking about my writing, publishing, training, and reading. Because that’s what felt important then. So, have I been consistent? Yes. And no. Yes, in that I made progress. I *consistently* did something over the year. And no, because I didn’t hit the specific goals I set. For example, I planned to publish two posts a week. That didn’t happen. Some weeks, I published more. Other weeks, I published nothing. In total, I wrote 93 posts. Not quite the 104 I’d aimed for. Another goal was to read a book a week. 52 books for the year. I’ve done it for years without even thinking about it. And yet, this year, I managed *less than 25*. So, what have I learned from all this? --- ### 1. My expectations were too high This is something I do all the time. I set my expectations way too high. Yes, I reminded myself at the start what consistency really meant. And yet, I still found myself *berating my lack of perfection*. --- ### 2. There is an ebb and flow to consistency Like most things in life, consistency has its own rhythm. For me, there’s a season when I devour books. And a season where I hardly read at all. There’s a season where I’m smashing my training goals. And a season where walking the dog is the only exercise I can manage. There’s a season where I write and write and write. And a season where I stare at the screen, wondering *what the fuck to say*. There’s a season for showing up online multiple times a week. And a season for unplugging entirely. --- ### 3. Long-term consistency matters more Just because you miss a day, a week, or even a month, *doesn’t mean you’re not making progress*. Zoom out. Look at the bigger picture. Over a year, two years, five years. You’ll see it. *You are moving forward.* I might not have hit every goal, but when I step back, I can see the progress. Pennies are still being put in the bank. Baby steps are being taken. --- ### 4. Seasons of inconsistency can be beneficial Taking a break from our goals doesn’t mean we’ve failed. It doesn’t mean we quit (*unless that is what we truly need to do*). Sometimes, it’s the most productive thing for us. A season of inconsistency lets us rest. Recharge. Try new things. It gives us space to *see things differently*. And you know what? Sometimes we stumble across something amazing. A new idea. A fresh perspective. Or even just a bit of joy we’d have missed otherwise. --- ### 5. Priorities change, and that’s okay What felt urgent and important at the start of the year might not feel that way now. And *that’s fine*. If we’re struggling to stay consistent, maybe it’s because that thing isn’t a priority anymore. Maybe something else needs our time and energy instead. We can’t do it all, all at once. [[Owning the Busy|We have to triage]]. Decide what matters right now and what can wait. For me, the things I was trying to be consistent with often ended up on hold. And instead of beating myself up about it, I’ve realised *it’s just part of the process*. --- ## Final Thoughts Consistency isn’t about being perfect. I *know* this. It’s about persistence. It’s about staying committed. Even when life throws you off course. And sometimes, staying committed means slowing down. Taking your time. Letting things unfold. *Is that such a bad thing?* I don’t think so. Just like there’s beauty in simplicity, there’s beauty in taking our time.