At first glance, consistency appears to be the holy grail of health and wellness. We’re frequently bombarded with messages like, “You must work out ____ number of times a week!” or “you should (not) eating this/that !”
In a world that often emphasizes strict routines, unwavering consistency, and a whole load of shoulds and musts, it can be easy to fall into the trap of self-judgment when we don’t meet our own expectations. We push ourselves to follow rigid health and fitness routines (or just feel bad that we've never managed to do this). This idea of 'consistency' can quickly morph into an inner dialogue that shames and blames us when we fall short. It might intensify our inner critic, which ignores the ebb and flow of our actual circumstances.
Why should we care about this?
Because, if we are constantly criticising ourselves, feeling bad about what we haven't done, or feels like we should do - we're adding another layer of stress.
Step back, see the bigger picture.
There's probably already significant stressors in your life already.
And even if you think you're not stressed, just busy, I'd question that.
Your mind and body have a very different experience of stress. Your mind might understand and rationalise the meeting, the children, the traffic etc. but your body doesn't. Your body perceives safety and unsafety, and it whispers quietly about how it's not coping (digestive issues, sleep issues, a load of downstream symptoms that are linked to our hormones, getting ill, headaches, sinus, jaw, shoulder pain, the list goes on...)
So do we really want to add more stress to this?
Surely that takes your further away from that bigger-picture, holistic health?
So, what if we turned the narrative on its head? What if we celebrated flexibility and adaptability instead of criticising ourselves?
Adaptability recognizes the fluctuations in our daily lives and how we often navigate a complex mix of responsibilities, emotions, and experiences. It’s about accepting that some days we rise to the occasion with energy and enthusiasm, while on others, we may struggle to get out of bed.
If we're on 30% capacity, and we gave 30%, we actually gave 100% (but we're measuring ourselves up against 100% from another day/another decade of our life).
When we embrace adaptability, we learn to breathe through these challenges, giving ourselves permission to be imperfect. Instead of harsh self-judgment for not always being ‘on top of our game,’ we can show up for ourselves with compassion.
This means recognizing that it's okay to have off days and that our worth isn’t tied to our productivity or adherence to a strict routine.
Over the years, I haven't been consistent. If I zoom into a week, or a month, there's when I've done nothing at all, just running/yoga/weights... If I zoom out and look at the last decade and a half, then it's a different story.
Here's an invitation, if it helps you, to zoom out.
Stop worrying about the next two weeks, or two months.
Let's look at the next 2 years.
Heck, the next 20 years.
The next 2 years, and the next 20 years, are going to have ups and downs.
They just are.
So if they're going to happen anyway, do matter what you do, you might as well work with them?
Consider these questions to help step into more adaptability:
How is my body feeling right now? Is there a small way I can honour how it feels?
Where's my circle of comfort right now? Is today a day to sit right inside the circle, dance around the edges, or take a little step outside it?
What are my musts and shoulds? Where did they come from? Do I believe they are true? If so, why are they important to me? Oftentimes these can point to what is/isn't meaningful for us.
Where am I noticing small wins, improvements, and an enjoyment in the process?
What options am I not considering? (sometimes an outside perspective/person is needed for this one). Parts of us who have expectations around consistency can often be a bit all-or-nothing - this helps you shift your focus from black-and-white thinking to a beautiful spectrum of choices
Ultimately, fostering adaptability enables a more supportive internal dialogue that acknowledges the real, often messy nature of life. By honoring our individual journeys, we create space for growth and resilience.
Health and wellness are not destinations; they are journeys filled with twists and turns.
By allowing yourself to adapt and adjust, you manifest resilience, creativity, and joy in the process. It’s not the strict adherence to a routine, or beating yourself up, that leads to health, but recognizing that you are a dynamic individual in a constantly changing environment.
In that sense, its about dancing with life's rhythm - one change at a time.
Dance with us, try a trial session here.
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