July 6Practiced Inconsistency
The other terror that scares us from self-trust is our consistency; a reverence for our past act or word because the eyes of others have no other data for computing our orbit than our past acts, and we are loath to disappoint them.
Ralph Waldo Emerson—Self-Reliance (1841)
A self-reliance point of view allows you to change your mind. Some might suggest it's part of the deal. Sticking steadfastly to an opinion or idea just because you always have, even if it no longer seems right to you, is the opposite of self-reliance.
If change is required for growth, as suggested by many, then occasional inconsistency is a must. Sure, if you can't be relied on to be there when needed you can erode trust, but that's different from being okay with changing your mind.
One of the reasons this idea is so hard for some to swallow is that our mind and body work against us subconsciously to retain the status quo. Neural pathways developed over time make us uncomfortable if we vary from our routines and prompt us to reach for the chips when watching TV.
Practiced inconsistency, shaking up our routines intentionally is one method to breaking up these pathways that want to keep us where we are. If you want to elevate your game, you must trust that remaining who you are, set patterns and all, might be the one thing holding you back the most.
Challenge Question
- What one routine or habit you can totally shake up today? Coffee?
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