Just Show Up

"Inconsistency is the only thing which men are consistent" - Horace Smith
Ever feel like getting started is the hardest part? Or maybe keeping the momentum going feels impossible some days?

These challenges are timeless, and Ryan Holiday addresses them in his book "Discipline is Destiny: The Power of Self-Control." In the chapter titled "Just Show Up," he shares some powerful insights we wanted to pass along.

Holiday writes, “Once something is done, you can build on it. Once you get started, momentum can grow. When you show up, you can get lucky. Is this still hard? Yes.”

This highlights a superpower available to all of us: the ability to simply begin. Some find initiating the hardest part, but once they do, momentum takes over. For others, starting is easy, but maintaining consistency feels like the real battle.

What about those days when everything feels 'off'? When distractions pull you in every direction, or you're simply 'not feeling it'? Holiday addresses this directly: “When everything seems out of whack, when you’re just not feeling it, when the distractions won’t stop – [this] is the first step to greatness. Literally. You cannot be great without the self-discipline to do that.”

That willingness to show up anyway, especially when it's hard, isn't just a nice-to-have; Holiday argues it's the foundation of greatness.

He emphasizes that consistency builds: “One thing a day adds up. Each day adds up. But the numbers are only interesting if they accumulate in large quantities.”

As we actively clear our schedules and prioritize our goals, remember that the aim isn't just hitting a streak or accumulating 'days done.' The real value lies in the deeper meaning – the learning, growth, and progress forged through that consistent effort.

So, the next time you hesitate, remember the simple (though not always easy) power of just showing up. It's the spark for momentum and the bedrock of disciplined progress.