How consistency really happens
If you’ve ever been curious how to actually stay consistent when life feels like chaos, here’s the truth:
discipline.
Not the hustle-hard, white-knuckle kind. The self-led, intention-fueled kind that builds resilience, even in the most inconvenient moments.
Discipline isn’t about being rigid.
It’s about being committed to your future self no matter what today looks like. Not letting yourself down!
And when you start seeing discipline this way, it becomes a personal empowerment practice:
Discipline builds resilience.
Resilience becomes your foundation.
Resilience fuels perseverance.
Perseverance becomes your fuel.
Perseverance builds consistency.
Consistency becomes your momentum.
Discipline connects these dots.
It turns effort into growth and transforms habits into achievements.
But let’s be real—discipline isn’t always comfortable. It won’t wait until you’re motivated. And it definitely doesn’t ask for perfect conditions.
Instead, it calls for imperfect action.
Showing up when it’s messy.
Adapting when life throws curveballs.
Moving forward even when your instinct says to pause—but your deeper knowing says: this matters.
Discipline without adaptability is rigidity. But when you trust your instincts to guide you and adapt in real-time, discipline becomes a living practice.
Let me give you a different example from my own experience—not from the Porch Project or the burnout era of 2019.
When discipline met intuition:
The move from Chicago to Baton Rouge.
In 2007, I left the family business and moved from Chicago to Louisiana to start my own photography company.
I didn’t have a safety net not a really clear plan. I had no family in Baton Rouge, just a handful of one-off clients and a gut instinct that said: you can build something here.
I followed that pull, even when it felt uncertain. It was bold, I didnt think too much about could happen only that I need something more, different … my own.
I showed up with my camera, not a guarantee.
I built relationships one photo session at a time.
I kept showing up through the 2008 recession, trusting that if I stayed consistent and adaptable, it would grow.
It wasn’t fast. It wasn’t easy. But it worked.
That business not only survived—it thrived. Even through the 2008 recession, I continued expanding. And that growth wasn’t powered by luck or a flawless strategy. It was powered by discipline and trust.
That’s the quiet power of discipline: it opens the door to self-discovery and helps you meet yourself again and again.
6 Small, Adaptive Steps to Build Discipline:
1. Start with flexible habits.
One tiny habit. So easy you can’t fail.
Small wins build confidence.
Missing a day isn’t failure—it’s feedback.
2. Create a routine.
Anchor your habit to something in daily life.
Routines reduce friction and remove excuses.
3. Track your progress.
Watch your streak grow.
Guard your time from distractions.
Visible progress keeps you engaged.
4. Be kind to yourself.
Self-criticism kills momentum.
Encouragement sustains it.
5. Plan for tough days.
Know what derails you.
Have a backup plan.
6. Focus on the bigger picture.
Your "why" matters more than your mood.
Discipline is about who you're becoming.
Discipline isn’t about being perfect. It’s about persistence.
It’s not about how you feel right now. It’s about who you’re becoming next.
And when you pair that with trust in your instincts, you unlock your most powerful path forward.
