Be Consistent

Change is sometimes thrust upon you.  Maybe you get into a car accident & then need to buy a brand new car.  It wasn’t something that you expected or even wanted but hey its time for a new car.  On the other hand, sometimes change is something that you seek to bring into your life.  Maybe you want a new job.  If that is so, then you need to start looking for one.  If you don’t start & consistently put effort into it, then you’ll never get that new job.  This change WILL happen because of the effort that you put into it.  Whether its a new job you need,  you want to lose weight or you want to begin an exercise routine, consistency is what will bring you the change that you seek.

I’ve been thinking a bit about consistency lately.  Consistency is something that I’ve intentionally brought into my personal yoga practice.  I don’t always feel like showing up to my yoga mat and then moving my body, but I’m making an effort anyway to be there every single day.  Sometimes, it’s not what you do when you show up to your yoga mat (or whatever it is that you’re trying to bring into your life).  What really matters is that you show up at all.  It’s that consistency of just showing up to whatever practice your trying to bring in to your life that will slowly start to make the changes that you seek.

I talk with many people with plantar fasciitis in my yoga classes.  I have a series of stretches that I often show them.  Those stretches when done consistently will help to bring relief from the plantar fasciitis.  But, if you only do them once a month or so when you’re reminded in your yoga class, then you won’t have that much relief.  Consistency means showing up to stretch your feet on a regular schedule.  It means doing it whether you really feel like it or not.  You might find that you stretch your feet longer some days than others.  That’s fine.  It’s the fact that you’re putting in some effort on a consistent basis that begins to make the changes.

Being consistent works in all areas of your life.  If you want to meditate daily, then that means sitting to meditate each & every day.  If you’re like me, then you have more time and energy some days and not on others.  That’s fine.  Sit and meditate as long as you can fit into your schedule.  Just be consistent and show up.  Each time you do, you’re closer to adding in a habit or making a change that you want in your life.

I’ve recently had my own bout of plantar fasciitis.  I’ve made a point of adding in those foot stretches into my morning yoga practice.  By being consistent with doing them every time I step onto my yoga mat, I’m happy to say that my foot is feeling much better.

Many changes that you’re trying to bring into your life often don’t take a lot of time out of your day.  The hard part is just remembering to add them in to your routine.  Sometimes you remember but you just don’t feel like doing them.  Overcome that resistance.  Make a point of showing up to whatever you want to change in your life.  Give it all that you have in the moment.  Know that you showed up & did the best that you could.  Some days it will be easy & others it will be hard.  Either way, just show up.  You’ll be glad that you did!

If you’re curious about the foot stretches &  foot strengtheners that I’ve been consistently doing to help my foot feel better, you can get them here in my e-book.  I share some simple tips that I’ve learned over the years as a yoga teacher to keep feet happier & healthier.