This Is What I Do

I had a conversation with an artist friend of mine recently, and it really stuck with me. We were talking about creating, about the challenges of trying to be a professional in the art world, and what it takes to sustain that over time. And as he talked about his own practice, it reminded me of something I knew from basketball but hadn’t thought about in a while.

In his instance, he’s always painting, that’s his practice. No matter what day it is, during business hours he’s always working on something. He’s consistently doing his art, and because of that consistency, he’s able to do it at the level he does it and keep up with the demand that he’s built. It’s not magic. It’s not talent alone, that’s why they call it practice. It’s the fact that he shows up and does the work so often that it’s become a natural muscle. It’s just what he does. That hit me, because I think we all have to ask ourselves that question. What am I consistent in?

If you’re consistent in complaining, you’re always going to be complaining. If you’re consistent in working out, that’s going to show. If you’re consistent in reading, in practicing the piano, in drawing, in whatever it is you say you want to get better at, that consistency is going to compound into something real. But if you’re not consistent, then the goal is just a wish.

I think any highly self-motivated person wants to be good at the things they do. Whether that’s professionally or socially. Whether it’s CrossFit on the weekends with friends where things get a little competitive, hiking, cooking, or building something new. Those environments that push you, those people that push you, being around that consistently makes a difference. But the consistency has to come from you first.

I’m trying to take this on for myself right now. I’m trying to be more in the mode of saying, I can be more consistent. That’s always the challenge. It’s easy to do something once or twice and feel good about it. It’s harder to do it every day, especially when nobody is watching and nobody is asking you to.

When it all comes down to it, if you put in the consistent work and you reach wherever it is you’re trying to go, you’ll be able to say something that matters: this is what I do. Not this is what I tried. Not this is what I dabbled in. This is what I do every day and it’s part of who I am.

There are degrees to everything between the person you are right now and the person you want to become. Consistency is what closes that gap. Not one big moment. Not one great week. The daily repetition of showing up and doing the thing, even if it’s only for five minutes. Draw something. Write something. Practice something. Just get in the habit, because the habit is what builds the muscle, and the muscle is what makes it feel natural.

My artist friend doesn’t struggle to create because he’s been doing it so consistently that it’s just part of his day. That’s where I want to be. That’s where I think we all want to be with the things that matter to us.

So I’m challenging myself, and I’m challenging you. Ask yourself, what are you consistent in right now? And if there’s something you want to go after, are you willing to practice it consistently enough that one day you can look someone in the eye and say, this is what I do?

Start today. Be consistent.