If you throw a bucket of water on a rock, nothing happens. The rock gets wet and then it dries.
However, if you subject the same rock to years and years of small but consistent drips then its impact will start to become visible. The rock will change shape. The tiny drip, which on its own is inconsequential, accumulates its own power through repetition and compounding pressure.
Many of us feel like it is only worthwhile if we can dedicate 100% effort and intensity to our health goals.
We start a restrictive diet or a morning routine that starts at 5am - lasting all of a few mornings. We smash the gym so hard in session one that we can’t move for days. Or even better, we don’t bother starting as there are things in the diary that mean we aren’t going to be able to commit with the full intensity that we know we can give.
The reality is that consistency beats intensity every time.
The idea of consistency and compounding is best described using an analogy from the world of investing.
We all know Warren Buffet, The Sage of Omaha - arguably the worlds most successful investor who is reportedly worth nearly $150bn.Buffett started investing age 11 so had a head start over most people, but what many don’t know is that 99% of his wealth was accumulated after the age of 50 and the vast majority of it was after his 65th birthday.
For years, no drastic change took place, but the consistency of his approach laid the foundations for huge gains to be reaped in the future. I would argue that health works on the same curve.
By the way, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with intensity. It’s great in bursts or if it can be sustained, but for most of us it’s the burning supernova before the star dies.
Pick one behaviour you want to improve or practice you want to start. Make a promise to commit, but on a micro scale.
If it’s journaling, make it 5 words a day. If it’s exercise make it ridiculously small.That’s your drip on the rock.
Give it time to compound and see your world improve as you become the person who keeps the promises you make to yourself.
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