On Consistency, Intensity, And Authenticity

A little over 3 years ago I wrote a post titled, Choose Harder Things.

Going to the gym had become “too easy.” I was just showing up. I would do the minimal workout that would allow me to say that I had worked out that day. I was being consistent, but I wasn’t being consistently intense.

In that post I spoke about a new workout routine I had decided to undertake. It involved getting up very early, getting in some yoga, taking a long hike though some good elevation. In it I made this bold statement, “So, I’m choosing the harder thing. The uneven path, the change in elevation and force of gravity will supply the intensity. I just need to bring the consistency”

That yoga/hiking routine was intense and focused and continued for quite some time. Then, on a long business trip, I decided not to pack my yoga mat. The next morning as I attempted to do yoga, I found out quickly that the mat was important, so I skipped the yoga. The following day I skipped the workout entirely. One day turned into two, and two into three. The next thing I knew, I was not doing yoga at all. Then the hiking ended. The consistency and intensity I had put so much effort into establishing, quickly fell by the way.

This morning I struggled with this issue of intensity and consistency again as I sat down to write.

I had a post idea sitting in draft, and I had limited time before having to get to a meeting here in Chicago. I was tired and rushing. I attempted to quickly pound out  my thoughts and hit the publish button, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it. It felt like I was at the the gym again, hopping on a treadmill, pressing a button and going through the motions. It felt forced. It felt like I was doing something just for the sake of saying I was doing something.

I didn’t publish the post I started this morning titled, “There Is No Shiny Object.” I don’t know if that post will ever see the light of day. I’ll pick it back up again tomorrow and see where it leads.

Should I sacrifice consistency at the alter of intensity? I don’t think so. This post certainly isn’t deep or intense. But it’s authentic. And I know this for sure, I don’t want to sacrifice authenticity on any altar.

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Photo: Some Rights Reserved by  Elias Bizannes