Show up every day and perform.
Wow. That simple, Anton.
Yep, that simple. I told you I hate complicated.
Don’t be fooled; it’s simple but not easy. Just because it accessible to everyone doesn’t mean everyone will be doing it.
Nah, this is the real world, remember.
Being consistent in anything is hard. That’s why the best at what they do are few and far between. Writers Octavia Butler, NK Jemisin, Stephen King, James Patterson are consistent, prolific, and successful writers.
They work at their craft every day; even when they’re not at their desks, they’re creating. Their focus is not on the end product but on the process. A fascinating truth about the world’s most successful people is that often, they’re not the strongest, fastest, or most creative.
They do have the ability to keep working through the pain barrier even when they hit the wall. Most people are terrible at consistent daily routines, and that’s why I don’t fear the competition; I compete with myself. For every day you keep going, hundreds of others give up.
As my sister-in-words Namsta the Author says #gratitudeisamust . Once we have health and strength, we are capable of amazing things, so be thankful you can keep going.
But, I don’t feel like practicing every day, Anton. I act when the spirit moves me.
Bullshit!
To quote the prolific Russian composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky:
“A self-respecting artist must not fold his hands on the pretext that he is not in the mood.”
If you’re happy with your results, then do what you want, when you want to. No change required.
On the other hand, if your ambitions are to make a dent in the universe and step away from the mediocre majority then you must put in the daily work. If you want to be noticed, produce consistently and improve on your work with every iteration. The initial push to challenge ourselves may take us out of our comfort zone, but imagine the rewards when you consistently apply the new habits you develop.
The habit of consistency isn’t about grand gestures or quick results. It’s about incremental progress over a long period of time. You’ll struggle and fail. That’s part of the process. Accept it, embrace it, move on. Commit to those small, consistent steps over time and watch your world transform.
