You know when you get in a streak? Eating healthy, meditating, going to bed on time, practicing or exercising regularly, limiting stimulants, putting the screens away a couple hours before bed, or even just flossing?
Then you one day, for no reason or for a good reason, you stop and it's all over. Never again. You failed and it was a good idea but oh well. Let's just get unhealthy and depressed and look at glowing objects designed to sell us stuff.
I love the idea of being consistent and following through with discipline. But I'm on vacation. I drink a beer because someone else is having one, I eat a danish, I sit on the beach for hours. And it's awesome.
One reason I think we may struggle so much with discipline is that our expectations are not realistic and we get down on ourselves after perceiving that we have, "failed." If we don't give ourselves room to stop, sip, sample, or sleep, we start to feel like we are missing out because our culture is SATURATED with things like cheese and cupcakes and funny late night talk shows.
Do your best and start small. When others try to pull you from your resolve, don't give in. Or, give in, but don't the next time. Set simple goals for yourself. If you do it a few days in a row, be like my friend Susie and give yourself a hi-five. If you fall off, say "oh well" and get yo ass right back on. Streaks are great, but it's the effort over time that builds consistency, discipline, healthy patterns, and ultimately the real growth. I love a good streak because it's a sign that I am getting better. These are the building blocks for our palace of bliss! Build on.
