"The things that are easy to do are also easy not to do." - Mark & Tammy Smith

This is a great reminder. Being consistent is one of my biggest challenges. But, like with anything else whether it be a physical change, personal growth or getting a toddler to sleep through the night, being consistent is the name of the game. A quote I heard in a seminar today: "We all know the phrase 'an apple a day keeps the Dr. away.' It doesn't say 7 apples on Sunday will keep the Dr. away. You can't cram growth into one day. Growth is a slow but rewarding process." - Mark and Tammy Smith. I love that! 

John Maxwell also taught: "Everything in life you're ever going to want is based upon your ability to develop yourself" and "growth is the only guarantee that tomorrow is going to be better." It's funny because my cycle of doing things is: 
1. fill my plate with as much as I possibly can
2. eat, sleep and breathe work, until I run myself into the ground
3. get seriously depressed for a day and feel like giving up
4. take a mental health break
5. research as much as I can so that I feel like I have "enough knowledge"
6. wake up, take accountability for where I am & tell myself it's ok not to know everything
7. get re-inspired and begin running at full speed 
8. feel like I am on top of the world
start back at 1.

It's really a vicious cycle. And what I'm learning is that the old adage "you are the 5 people you are closest to" really holds true. I need to surround myself with the best. In order to be successful I have to be my best and strive to constantly be improving. To read every day. To take care of my physical and spiritual self. To be positive. To be coachable. To constantly be filling my cup. To never stop moving towards my goals. 

Cornell Thomas, in his book "Extraordinary: The distance between good and great" talks about looking forward, always, because that's where his targets are. He says: "..if there's no target in front of you, beware of the one on your back." I like that image, because I don't want anyone to pass me up (not that they can, exactly - my dream is unique to me after all). But the hustle, the momentum is often what keeps us motivated because it's in those moments we get a taste of what is possible. It's that running as if someone is chasing you that gets you excited to keep moving. My sister and I are actually doing this little dance right now. We both downloaded the duolingo app and are trying to master a new language. We are on a leaderboard that is constantly updating our stats. Naturally when I wake up in the morning and she's ahead I find myself obsessing over  making time to get back on so that I can get in front of her. 

Cornell also talks about trying vs. doing. Bottom line: you are either doing something or you aren't. I can put my energy into doing things that are more meaningful. 

The more I learn, the more I'll know. The more I know, the more I have to give to others. The more I can give to others, the better I will be able to really understand their needs and serve them. I will even become a better, happier and more productive leader in the process. Why do we make things so difficult for ourselves, when all we need to do is pick up a book and get started? I am excited for what's to come, for each day of the rest of my life.