A lot of times we don’t achieve the results we desire because we behave in opposition to the results we want to manifest. We say things like “I want a new job,” but don’t fix up our resume and actually apply to new jobs. We say, “I want to lose weight,” then continue to eat unhealthy meals and do little to no exercise. It is no surprise that we keep hitting the same brick wall and remain stuck in the same old story. It is so much easier to just keep doing what we have always been doing because our brains have developed strong neural connections for our current behaviors. Therefore, change, at first, won’t come easy. The moment we start creating new habits, our bodies will naturally want to gravitate back into the old, familiar behaviors. So it is crucial that we be consistent.

Suppose you want to start eating vegetables every day but your body is used to eating bread every day, your bread cravings will naturally surface. Your body will say to you, “OoOh, look at that yummy piece of bread. Wouldn’t it just be amazing to have it with some delicious butter?” Your body will remind you of the salty-sweet, rich smell of bread. It will recall to you how comforting it feels to just bite into that soft piece of deliciousness and how satisfying it makes your belly feel.  If at that moment, right when your old patterns start to creep in, you do not make the conscious decision to say, “BREAD – ALTHOUGH YOU ARE DELICIOUS,  I AM GOING TO EAT SOME BROCCOLI AND CARROTS INSTEAD,” then you will fall back into your old pattern. You have to say “NO” to whatever is against the result you want to achieve. I’ve used bread as an example, (I love me some bread, mmmm) but it’s the same equation with anything else you want to change in your life. The old pattern will creep in and you must interrupt it with the new pattern you want to make habit of.

Real change will happen once you start to take consistent action towards your desired goal. Caveat – you may not always want to take the necessary action to get what you want. You may not always want to get up early before work to go exercise. You may not always want to spend hours in front of your computer to search for new jobs. You may not always want to eat broccoli instead of a Wendy’s burger (mmmmm). It’s not about wanting to. You have to listen to the inner sergeant within you that fiercely commands you, “GET THE HECK UP AND JUST FREAKING DO IT ANYWAY!” Great results require your committed effort on days that you feel like it and on days that you don’t. Even when you don’t really feel like taking action, push yourself. You have to be consistent if you want to see real results. You will be so glad you did!

(Picture credit to Google images)