This piece is part of my 2016–2026 archive migration. Some original formatting, content, and external links may be missing, changed, or not be optimized.
Most Progress Isn’t Visible Until Much Later
Bamboo shoots can barely be seen for the first five years as they build extensive root systems underground before exploding ninety feet into the air within six weeks. Similarly, habits often appear to make no difference until you cross a critical threshold and unlock a new level of performance (James Clear, Atomic Habits)
Consistency.
This is key to most success in life. But, it’s also one of the most challenging habits to implement because consistency requires tedious self-discipline.
Self-discipline is something most people lack in their lives, which is why many choose mediocrity; it’s simply easier to live this way instead of pushing yourself into the discomfort zone.
Invisible Progress Is Hard To Cope With
Not seeing your progress can be debilitating, demotivating, and incentivizing you to cease investing more time, energy, and effort into your objectives.
But when you don’t notice any progress, this is the best time to keep moving forward – keeping the future state of your life in mind and at the forefront of your thoughts.
“Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.”
When we first start on a goal, we’re not close to reaching our objective, but we sure are closer to reaching our objective than before we started.
The longer we keep working towards our goals, though, the closer we come to reaching the objective – even when the objective seems too far and out of reach.
Reflection: Think back to how one specific area of your life might look different if you had practiced consistency for years on end.
Consistency x Years = Massive results
Here Are Some Remedial Questions
What do you want your life to look like in 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, or 20 years down the line?
Are you comfortable with your life looking the same way as it does now in the future?
The answers to these questions are critical, for they will shape your future.
Allow Your Future Self To Guide You
Most people don’t practice self-discipline and consistency because they forget about their future selves. They’re so wrapped up in the temporary pain discipline produces in the present that they forget the future result of what practicing discipline now will produce.
When we visualize and prioritize what we want in the future, our actions tend to be more productive because we are preparing in the present moment for a future result.
The thing about discipline is the rewards come much later. Most kids choose to eat the marshmallow now instead of waiting a little longer to get extra marshmallows. We have all fallen victim to getting what we want now! But where does this mentality get us? Often, not very far.
Living in the moment is great for our mental and emotional health but not so great when practicing self-discipline for our future selves.
When I say: “Cozy Up With Discipline, So You Don’t Stay At First Base Your Whole Life,” first base represents mediocrity, complacency, and untapped potential due to not practicing self-discipline.
This content is for informational purposes only — not professional advice. Consult a qualified professional before making any major decisions.