Consistency...? Who?

When I started this blog, my expectations were sky-high. I was entranced by the idea of writing weekly blogs and maintaining an active website. Even with only a few posts under my belt, I couldn't help but frequently check my blog's analytics, hoping to see a sudden surge in page views. I would look up SEO tips, ask my friends and family to explore the site, and religiously browse through the /Blogging subreddit. All of this was in the hopes of creating something vibrant, fresh and dynamic.

The goal of this blog has never been to gain a large viewership, rather, to help me improve my writing skills and explore my creativity. nonetheless, the thought of engaging random people with my blogs undoubtedly motivated me; it provided a constructive amount of pressure.

Wellllll not even a month after starting this blog I simply stopped writing. I had all these ideas in my head about different topics and whatnot, but life just got in the way (*cough*... excuse... cough*...)... I guess? I'm sure most people out there can relate, but consistency is one of the hardest things to achieve. Being consistent requires devotion and motivation (with a lil sprinkle of passion and admiration).

Having savoured the privilege of consciousness for a whopping 24 years (thanks mom + dad), I have come to acknowledge that consistency draws its essence from two primary sources:

(1) EXTERNAL PRESSURE

Recall the youthful days of growing up, when your personal chauffeurs (parents) would escort you to basketball practice... Now, envision yourself in the back seat of a silver Chevy Lumina (such an ugly car btw) on a dreary winter evening. It's only 6:30pm, yet darkness is prematurely sweeping the streets. You're wearing a green quilted jacket, throwing a hissy-fit, crying and demanding for the car to make a U-turn back home... It's instances like these where even though you don't want to play basketball, you don't really have a choice. You are being pressured – maybe forced is a better word – to attend every practice and game. You would rather be at home munching on sugary cereals while watching cartoons. Yet, external pressures meticulously choreograph your movements, slowly guiding you towards consistency. This is the most common medium for consistency. It can be argued that everything is derived from this (woahhhh).

(2) INTRINSICALLY

When external factors are stripped, all you are left with is you. This source of consistency might be a bit tougher to grasp, as I believe that most actions are stemmed from at least a tiny bit of external pressure. But in the end of the day, you choose ALL of your actions. This blog is a prime example. Even though I haven't written in months, I am the one who is accountable for it... I am the sole target to blame. If I wanted to, I could easily write more frequently. Sure, we only have approximately 15-16 hours a day to do things (I try to get at least 6-7 hours of sleep!), but if you truly want to achieve something, you will make the time for it.

When you are consistent, that thing – whatever it may be – becomes a part of you. I found myself to be distracted by the little things. Our world is abundantly filled with sources of stimulation, and it is extremely difficult not to be warped into the void of distractions – take a step back, evaluate what your goals are, and choose to be consistent!

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A nice neighbourhood cat that I stumbled upon during one of my runs. I see quite a few of them on my typical runs! They provide a nice boost of serotonin :)