How to Take Consistent Action: 7 Powerful Tips

“In essence, if we want to direct our lives, we must take control of our consistent actions. It’s NOT what we do once in a while that shapes our lives, but what we do consistently.”
Anthony Robbins

Maybe the biggest problem people have when trying to improve something in their lives is that they never take much action at all.

Perhaps the second biggest problem is that they don’t take consistent action over a longer time period.

Now, consistency isn’t really the most exciting word in our language. I sometimes personally cringe when I hear it because it makes me think of hard work. But it is, coupled with time, what will give you real results in your life. Sticking with the program and doing something consistently – and not just when you feel inspired or something like that – is very, very powerful.

To me it’s also – at least at the moment – one of the most frustrating parts of personal development. Some days go great. Some days really don’t. Quite a few days wind up somewhere in between.

I’ve been able to become more consistent in many areas and there is no thing as perfection where every day is plain awesome. So no point in striving for some illusory perfection in any part of life. And variation and setbacks are stimulating and valuable parts of life. But still, improvements can be made.

Consistency and discipline need to be part of overall strategy in personal development. To truly change, grow, and become all that we came to be we want to stay focused on our overall life goals. Our deeper passion for our purpose needs to be at the forefront in planning our daily goal. These tips can be used to make it easier to get through the period that is needed to establish a new habit in your life (about 21-45 days or so in my experience).

1. Use a morning ritual.

This is perhaps the most powerful tip I have found so far in this area. You simply set up a routine in the morning that you do as soon as you wake up. This works so well because what you do early in the day often sets the context for your day. As humans we have a strong tendency to want to be consistent with what we have done before. That’s one big reason why a bad start often leads to a bad day and a good start often leads to a good day. For example, once the kids leave, I take a good walk after I eat breakfast. I now have my energy for the afternoon.

2. Do things even if you don’t feel like it.

Your inner voice and feelings can be disregarded if you like. You can do whatever you want to do anyway.

3. Don’t hurt yourself.

Realize that when you disappoint yourself and don’t think and do as you really deep down want to, your hurt yourself by lowering your self esteem. Whatever you do during your day sends signals back to yourself about what kind of person you are. Do the right thing like being effective, kind or go to the gym and you feel good. Get lazy, negative or just plain mean and you tend to feel worse after a while. You don’t get away, there is no escaping yourself. And there is always a price to pay. This is a powerful motivator to become a better person.  Lack of Action can become a habit if you let it, and that will hurt you more.

4. Focus on and take responsibility for the process, not the potential results.

I use this when I workout. I don’t take responsibility for the results in my mind. I take responsibility for showing up and doing my workout. The results – 15 pounds lost during last spring – came from that consistent action. And this made it easier for me to take this action when I knew that is all I needed to focus on. Instead of using half of the energy and focus I have available on hoping that I “reach my goal real, real soon”.

Yet, after I reach my goal, I let myself go back to old routines. Within one  year, I gained the weight back. So, now I am starting the process again. I will do it.

5. Find and do what you love or like to do.

It always easier to stick with the program if you love or at least like what you are doing every week. So experiment and find what suits you best.  I, myself, love to help me friends. My wife and I have our own business. We lower our power bills and teach our friends to do the same. It's that simple.

6. Let go of old self images.

Back at college, I saw myself as someone who had worldly limits due to my Epilepsy.  I was allowing the world to mold me and tell me who I should be instead of making choices for me.  I was living in an unhealthy way.  Over time I started to think more and more of myself as someone who was healthy. But I still shifted back and forth between the two self-images of being a healthy person and an unhealthy person.

I began to associate with different people who spoke to me on a daily basis the same way I am writing to you.  Since then, as my self-image as a healthy person has become consistent in my mind, I find it much easier to work out and eat healthy food. It like the natural thing for me to do now. I know I am still Epileptic but was no longer an Excuse, yet an Obstacle in life. I was also a great part of my testimony to share with others who needed to hear it.

7. Use reminders in your environment.

I have been posting about this concept for a long time now. Just look at any of my profiles or blogs. What you do is simply to write down what you really want to make into a habit or a natural part of your life on a post-it, on your screensaver on the computer etc.

My goals are written down on paper besides my computer. I have my “Freedom” goal and my “Dream” goal.  My Freedom goal is the amount of income I need to reach to bring my wife home from the job, pay all my debts, and cover all our income streams without increasing my lifestyle.  My Dream goal is step 2. This is what a lot of people have in mind: Bigger home, Retire parents, Yearly Vacations, Retirement, Charities, ect.  I found a price for everything I wanted and put this number on the other sheet.  Sometimes my Dream goal seems so far out of reach, yet I love how close I am to step 1.

What is your best tip for taking more consistent action? Leave Comments

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I leave you with this, Knowledge is Great, yet pointless if never applied in Life. TAKE ACTION.