“Consistency is contrary to nature, contrary to life. The only completely consistent people are dead.”—Aldous Huxley
When discussing success, we often consider consistency and commitment to be key. Indeed, these are keys to success, but, alone, they are a threat to personal growth and continued improvement (i.e., kaizen). Thus, they can limit one’s pursuit of well-centered fitness and the “growth mindset.” It is better that we consider the consistency of and commitment to progress.
As an exercise physiologist with philosophical mind, I think of all growth (Spiritual, Physical, Intellectual, Emotional, and Social) from the perspective of all things being bio-mechanical-psycho-social and apply the “principles of adaptation” (specificity, overload, progression, recovery, reversibility, and individuality) taught in basic exercise science. As such, I can’t consider growth without considering progressive overload. As Huxley stated, “the only completely consistent people are dead.” Terminally consistent people are stagnant and demonstrate little to no growth. Indeed, if one is to grow (Spiritually, Physically, Intellectually, Emotionally, and Socially) one must be progressing. They must be committed to consistent and progressive overload to the specific characteristic that they which to improve (grow).
The saying, “insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results,” is widely attributed to Albert Einstein. Terminal consistency, then, is a form of insanity. This is not to say that consistency is all bad. Of course, consistency in what we might call “healthy routines” (e.g., hygiene, brushing one’s teeth, etc.) are purposeful. One can, however, always consider how even these routines can be improved.
Consistency and determination are keys to success when tied to a growth mindset. When they lack the concept of “progressive overload” success is forever a distant mirage.
In what areas of life are we experiencing terminal consistency? Perhaps in our weekly church attendance? In our exercise “program”? In our daily consumption of trivial information via social media and popular press? In our self-contentment? In our relationships? In what areas of life do we need be “raised from the dead”? In what areas do we need to grow toward the asymptote of well-centeredness?
Be your best today; be better tomorrow.
Carpe momento!