Imagine waking up 10 years from now and wishing that you had done something different. I am not talking about literally waking up from sleep, but from an illusion most of us live with. Most of us live our lives with a subconscious belief that time is abundant, and we keep putting off things for tomorrow or keep waiting for the right time.
“The only things we regret in life are the risks we did not take.” — Farrah Gray
In a world focused on short-term gains, it is tempting to take shortcuts. But is there any shortcut for real success? Everyone is so focused on building a castle that they barely pause to consider whether they are constructing a sandcastle or a fortress capable of withstanding storms and waves.
As the saying goes, ‘Shallow waters make the most noise while the deepest ones remain silent.’
Building upon this saying, one of the important things is to work in silence. Not because the world shouldn’t know about your struggles or your milestones, but because it conserves your energy and focus. The fewer people you involve in this personal journey of yours, the more chances you have to achieve what you have set your eyes on. You have fewer opinions and more clarity. Put your entire focus on building yourself, not on what it looks like to the world or what people think about it. Let your achievements and success speak for you. You must choose wisely who you share your journey with. Quality over quantity will never go wrong here. Silence is powerful if you know how and when to use it.
What do you think are the three things that the most successful individuals have in common? I believe it’s consistency, resilience, and a growth mindset.
Are all successful people innately talented? The answer might surprise you. Absolutely not! You could be more talented than most people, but if you take it for granted, you will be no less than ordinary. Consistency will always overpower talent that lacks discipline. It seems like it isn’t much of a thing, yet not everyone can manage to be consistent. Which is why discipline is the toughest form of self-love. Consistency is not the fastest way to reach your goal but is a sure shot way to achieve what you want to.
Remember, success is a step-by-step process, and the first step is to work on the biggest project that you will ever get to work on, “YOU”. Work on you and your skills. Wake up each day to work towards becoming the best version of yourself and keep chasing that version forever. This is something I have been telling myself since I was 21. Matthew McConaughey said something similar in his Oscar Acceptance Speech.
He said he needs three things each day. “One of them is something to look up to; another is something to look forward to; and another is someone to chase…” He mentions how he keeps chasing the 10 yrs. forward version of him. I resonated so much with what he said and his humbleness, it truly inspired me. Read the full speech here. Trust me, it’s a treat to the mind!
While all these are surface-level aspects, what it takes to build them is another layer of underlying qualities. It requires being honest with yourself, courage, self-awareness, and self-belief. It’s easy to give up on consistency. Our brain is wired to justify its shortcomings. So, unless you have a deep sense of self-awareness, you probably won’t ever realize the problem with inconsistency. Once you spiral down into the comfort of it, you will slowly let your passions slip into an abyss, and it will then become a story that you may be telling your children or grandchildren.
I have heard so many people say things like, ‘I used to be an athlete back in high school,’ ‘My handwriting was the best in school,’ ‘I used to be good with calculations,’ ‘Oh, he used to be such an amazing musician,’ and so on. I too have indulged in conversations like these. ‘I used to wake up at 5 am in the morning.’ But that was 6 years ago and for only 2 months!
Remember, we are not what we used to be in any moment other than the present. Our character is shaped by the little choices we make each day. So, every moment is a chance to begin anew. Even seemingly insignificant actions like making our bed or putting things where they belong speak volumes about us. Good habits require nurturing, and what you don’t nurture eventually withers away. That brings us to the importance of consistency.
Building consistency requires resilience. It isn’t a cakewalk and neither does success always come in one go. There will always be highs and lows, perhaps even multiple lows in a row. How well you bounce back from all the setbacks is ultimately what makes the difference. There will be days when you’ll be the only cheerleader you have, days when you’ll have to pick yourself up and start all over again. You must be comfortable with a few things.
1. Starting all over again
2. Being alone
3. Unlearning
4. Change
Innate talent is rare, so you cannot survive without having a growth mindset. (If you want to read more on what a growth mindset is, I have linked an article by Harvard Business Review for you.)
The person who said, “Practice makes a man perfect.” wasn’t just saying it. Giving something genuine effort and consistent, it is bound to yield results. I faced a creative block and left it untouched for years! I wasn’t ready to do the hard work required; I kept waiting for words to flow naturally to me. Not for a year, not for two, but four good years. It was only when I started to invest time and effort and accepted that fact that I must unlearn certain things, and consistently put effort, that I could get back to writing whatever little I can.
You must cultivate the art of patience, trusting the process. Be ready to learn throughout your journey, drawing wisdom from each experience and every person you encounter. Furthermore, be prepared to unlearn. This is crucial; sooner or later, you will need to let go of things you thought you had fully grasped. Maintain a learner’s mindset always, remaining open to exploring new possibilities.
As Socrates famously said, “I am the wisest man alive, for I know one thing, and that is that I know nothing.”
-Scribbledgene