Towards the beginning of my blog, every blog felt like a project. It felt like a big deal to sit down and write it… I even considered stopping it a few times because it didn’t feel worth it.
Part of this came from not having written regularly before and part of this came from uncertainty about putting my messages out there.
But every time I considered stopping, someone would reach out saying how they had read my blog and how it had impacted them. So I kept going.
Then I started writing daily for myself. Then I stepped into copywriting and picked up a few clients. Then a few more. And actually, the blog is what drew a few of those clients in.
And now 75 blogs later (well okay.. It happened much before that), writing my blog is one of the easiest weekly to-dos I have.
I built up the muscle which also built up my confidence. And building this muscle is important in any creative endeavor. Well…. any endeavor really.
Consistency allows for messiness
When you are consistent, you take away the pressure to hit the mark perfectly every single time. I think of this a lot like sports.
I played field hockey and softball in high school. In field hockey, I got a lot more opportunities to make plays than in softball, even being a shortstop. There seemed to be a lot less pressure in field hockey because it was a lot easier to make up for any messiness.
Exercising your creative muscle is the same way. Had a typo or a topic that didn’t hit the mark? No worries at all, just step up again the next week! People can see your talent on a consistent basis and won’t judge you for a minor misstep here or there.
This is actually an example where quantity can help show quality. Without consistency, a small misstep can look like a higher percentage of your work.
So get going and get messy! Speaking of which….
Consistency allows you to take risks
Similarly, if you’re only occasionally exercising your creative muscle, you may be more careful about what you do. But when you are consistent, you can afford to take more risks.
It’s possible that risk you were able to take is a huge hit and pays off in a big way! But if a topic misses the mark, just get back on track the next week.
Consistency allows you to quickly adjust course in either direction, whether it’s blazing a new trail or course correcting. It’s much easier to pivot when you’re already in a consistent rhythm.
Newton’s First Law of Motion states that an object at rest tends to stay at rest. It’s hard to pivot when you’re at rest. Instead, be that object in motion.
Consistency builds strength
Similar to physical strength, building your creative muscle only happens with consistent work. While it’s great to exercise this muscle when inspiration strikes, it can’t just be used during bouts of inspiration. It needs to be exercised on a regular basis.
And once you’ve practiced being consistent, you can recognize what sort of activities bring you inspiration and schedule those in on the same regular basis. What could be better than being able to be consistent about your flow?
Getting a coach or accountability partner is a great way to do this.
Writing a book is the height of needing consistency in your creativity. If you’re looking for accountability in writing your book through a coach or editor, or maybe you just want someone to write it for you by having a few fun conversations with them, I’m your girl!
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Disclaimer: This blog should not be construed as providing, or intending to provide professional financial, legal, psychological, or other professional advice. It is simply meant to share my experiences with those who may find them relatable and helpful.