If there’s one maxim for success that’s been repeated the most, it is, ‘You must be consistent to succeed.’

And yet, the number one thing most people struggle with is a lack of consistency in their actions.

They start with high energy and perform well for a few days. But then, the roller coaster tips down from the top, and they’re right back where they started.

They wonder, “Why am I not consistent?”

And they answer, “Maybe I’m just not disciplined enough.”

They go down that route, making themselves super uncomfortable in the name of pursuing discipline.

But the pressure of that discipline doesn’t turn them into diamonds; it turns them into dust and burns them out.

Then, even discipline doesn’t feel like the right answer. (Because it isn’t!)

So, what is the right answer? And how can you break through that barrier to achieve the ultrahuman consistency you’ve been dreaming of?

Why We Fail:

Tony Robbins once said, “It is not what we do once in a while that shapes our lives. It is what we do consistently.”

And when we’re creating a haphazard, inconsistent life, it might appear that there’s nothing we’re doing with consistency.

But we are.

We’re consistent in being inconsistent.

Think about it. What you practice most is what becomes easy and natural for you. And when you’re constantly practicing the highs and lows that come with inconsistent actions, that’s what you’re becoming an expert at.

Eventually, you start believing, “I am inconsistent.” It becomes your identity, and now, every action you take will feel inconsistent because your mind will try to conform to this identity you’ve built.

Like your name, the label of ‘inconsistent’ becomes resonant for you. You might not like yourself for it, but you get used to it.

And that’s the problem.

It’s not discipline. It’s not commitment. It’s not even the question of how badly you want it. It’s just become an identity for you. 

And the moment you change that identity, everything changes.

The Power of Identity:

The best story ever written in the history of our world isn’t by some author who spent years in a wood cabin writing his book.

It’s a living, breathing story that defines our everyday reality.

The name of that story is “Countries.”

That’s right. If you really look at the core, the whole idea of countries is a fictional idea because the Earth didn’t come with predefined borders. The earth never had signposts that said, “This land belongs to the Americans.” Or “This part of the earth belongs to the Japanese.”

We created those ideas. 

But because we believe so strongly in them, they are a reality now, and they have created all kinds of systems around us.

We can’t dare to cross a border without proper paperwork and passports because that’s the way nations work.

But say the same thing to a migratory bird, and it will call you crazy because the bird doesn’t believe in nations. It just flies wherever it wants.

Now I’m not saying that you become like a migratory bird that doesn’t care for rules. (Please don’t do that!)

All I’m saying is, if we can create such a powerful story and get billions of people to believe in it so strongly that it literally becomes reality, then we can consciously change the story we believe about ourselves.

And that’s the first step. Without it, all other efforts will fail because they will be like swimming against the tide.

You cannot get an American to instantly believe he’s actually Indian by forcing him to move to India. He just won’t because it doesn’t align with his identity.

Just like that, if your identity is, “I am inconsistent,” but you force yourself to be disciplined, you will fail because you’re trying to do something that’s totally incongruent with your identity.

Work on the foundation first, change your identity, and all you want will fall into place effortlessly.

Here’s how.

Consciously Rebuild Your Identity:

Research shows us clearly that our identities are not permanent. They are strong. And they drive massive action. But they can be changed.

And if we do that consciously, it’s actually pretty easy.

So, here’s what you do.

If your current belief is, “I am inconsistent,” all you need to do is change it to, “I am consistent. I am disciplined. I am happy.”

When you add stronger words to a new identity, it becomes easier to imbibe it.

Now I know your brain is saying, “This is not true.”

But all you have to do is “Fake it till you make it.”

Because the key to changing your identity is repetition. You learned to be inconsistent through repetition (even though it wasn’t conscious). People learn to smoke and drink through repetition (even though they don’t like the taste when they first start).

So, if you want to build a new identity, you must consciously repeat it. 

And then, create proof for it.

If consistency is what you’re going for, ask yourself at the end of the day, “What actions did I take towards consistency today?” Consciously bring them to your attention and back up your new identity with proof—no matter how big or small it is.

And when you repeat this process for a few weeks, your brain will start rewiring, your actions will reflect consistency, and you will have become the person you always wanted to be.

Not because you burnt yourself out trying to be disciplined. You just took the smart way and changed your identity into an empowering one!