Creating a cadence of consistency. The recipe for sustainable growth.

Have you ever attempted to change an old habit or start a new one, only to find yourself struggling to maintain the momentum needed to achieve and surpass your goals? If so, you're not alone. Did you know that 96 percent of people fail to reach their goals? How is this possible? The answer lies in the process (or the absence of one). The process, as I call it, involves creating a cadence of consistency (3C Method). While theoretically simple, it is not easy to apply.

To make this more relatable, I've chosen my favorite analogy for the theme: the recipe analogy. Although it might be cliché, using associations is one of the most effective ways to create a mental connection. To enhance this, I've included some science-backed tools as part of the formula. As you know, following a recipe in baking is more of a science than in cooking. The methodology I use for myself and with my clients is science-based. Although I tend to lean towards a cooking mindset (throwing things into a pot), I found that it no longer served me at the level I desired. So, I shifted gears and adopted a more scientific approach. As the saying goes, the way we do anything is the way we do everything. I am excited to share these proven techniques with my clients as part of the Mindagility platform, and here with you in this article, the first in a new series. I hope you'll read on, stay engaged, embrace the journey, and enjoy the ride.

Recipe for a firm and consistent foundation:

For starters you will need:

A firm foundation. Foundation = The basic groundwork of anything and is the main ingredient and key to unlocking your next level of growth

A Cadence Consistency: Consistency = The missing link to goal accomplishment, the foundation, and backbone of any sustainable growth plan.

Warning: Adding more to the faulty structure will cause it to waiver, you will have to keep starting over. It will decrease your confidence. Always ask yourself if you begin to find yourself adding on new tasks or projects first, “How’s my foundation?” Over time and after developing new habits keeping it in check should become automatic over time meaning you will literally feel the shift.

Here are the ingredients for the secret sauce:

The foundation of growth is consistency, and the foundation of consistency is comprised of awareness, vision, and connection.

• Awareness - A morning routine is the foundation of your day. Meditate. Practice gratitude. Do affirmations. Exercise.

• Vision - Set clearly written goals and run them through the SMART goals framework. Ask yourself: Are your goals SMART? (Specific? Measurable? Attainable? Realistic? Timely?)

• Create your plan using sub-goals, I recommend using Steven Covey’s 4DX (4 Disciplines of Execution)

• Connection - Create and nurture a strong connection with your mind, body, and soul (many of which are listed as part of awareness above) as well as with a connection to something “greater” (God, nature, the universe, etc.).

Now mix it all together:

How? You can only really begin to start three new habits at a time, but no more than three.

It’s a proverbial juggling act. But just like juggling, you need a strong foundation; your feet to help provide balance and alignment, a system to learn, and plenty of practice and patience. So, if all of this seems like a juggling act, that’s because it is. Here are a few tactics that will help you to stay on track:

1. Check-in throughout the day, as often as every couple of hours just to make sure that you are on track and staying focused.

2. Celebrate small wins while keeping your eye on the prize.

Repeat:

Repeat every day for at least one to three months then continue. It can take an average of 66 days for a new behavior to become entrenched, so patience and consistency are key.

Once you recognize your ability to create and manage effective change, you’ll be well on your way to creating your foundation. Most importantly, don’t beat yourself up if you run out of time, or slip up. Tomorrow is another day: just hit the reset button. But, keep this in mind: Failing to execute a daily habit once, decreases the immediate effectiveness of retaining that habit by 5%. A two-day lapse is a 55% decline. If you miss more than two days, and you can say goodbye to the new habit.

As I stated before, while it may seem straightforward, applying it is not simplistic. If it were truly easy, everyone would achieve and surpass their goals. However, the reality is that inconsistency causes 96 percent of people to fall short of their goals, leading them to seek coaches and use programs and apps to assist with accountability.

If you would like to learn more about creating a winnable game plan that will help you stay on course and create a path towards achieving sustainable growth by learning how to track and measure your results, email jenny@jennymakeithappen.com or visit www.jennymakeithappen.com and use our contact form to set up a no cost, no obligation consultation today.