In 2004 I met Jim Wharton, the developer of the Wharton Health System, a series of flexibility and strength exercises designed to promote structural health. He was the first one to let me in on the fact the our physical bodies change on a daily basis and provide the tools for me to see that. If our own physical nature is continually changing, I wonder why we expect or desire consistency?
Yes, consistency takes less energy to navigate. It would be “easier” to live if nothing changed. But, then again, if nothing ever changed, then nothing would or could change. Then we would be stuck with whatever we found ourselves with. There would be no hope for anything different if the entire system we were in was static.
We don’t live in that kind of world. Instead our world seems to be changing more and more rapidly. So what can we do to find some consistency in a world where everything changes. Here are some things that have helped in my own journey:
1) Consistent practice – find some time, no matter how short, to do something consistently (daily, weekly, monthly, etc.). This blog is one example of a daily practice of mine.
2) Consistent approach – develop a consistent way of approaching situations. What questions do you ask? What actions do you take? What presence to you bring? While tactics (what you actually do) might change, your approach (how you go about deciding what to do) can be consistent.
3) Consistent values – have a set of consistent values. These will provide a framework for how you see the world, and how you would like to see it. Our values provide a framework for our approaches and meaning for our practices.
Do you have things that have helped you find consistency during a time of change? Share them on Facebook or Twitter.