The art of showing up
how I’m learning to be consistent
Discipline Is Keeping a Promise to Myself
I’ve always prided myself on being a great planner. Give me a blank journal or a structured planner, and I will meticulously map out my week, my month, even my entire year. I love the process of organizing my thoughts, breaking big goals into manageable tasks, and creating detailed timelines. Planning comes naturally to me—it’s something I enjoy.
But execution? Consistency? Discipline? That’s where the real challenge begins.
For the longest time, I thought that having a solid plan was enough. If I wrote down what I needed to do and structured my time efficiently, then success would surely follow. But time and time again, I found myself struggling to follow through, especially when unexpected obstacles arose. It’s a strange thing to admit—especially now that I’ve pivoted into project management, where discipline and meeting deadlines are the foundation of success.
Why is it that I can expertly manage timelines, workflows, and deliverables for projects at work but struggle to apply the same level of discipline and consistency in my personal endeavors?
This question has been on my mind for a while, and I’ve come to realize that the issue isn’t about my ability to plan or my work ethic. It’s about building the habit of following through, even when motivation wanes or when things don’t go exactly as planned.
Rethinking My Approach to Discipline
I’ve spent a lot of time refining my approach to productivity—not just in theory but in actual execution. Instead of overwhelming myself with overly ambitious deadlines, I’ve been learning to set realistic timeframes for my tasks. This has been a game-changer.
Life is unpredictable. There will always be moments when things don’t go according to plan—whether it's a last-minute work emergency, personal stress, or just plain exhaustion. So, I’ve started factoring in those inevitable delays into my schedule. By giving myself reasonable deadlines with built-in buffer time, I ensure that even if something disrupts my plans, I don’t completely lose my footing.
And it’s been working.
Between studying, managing this blog, handling my remote job, and juggling other projects, I’ve found a rhythm that, while not perfect, is sustainable. My key strategy? Breaking things down.
I started by setting broad, overarching goals for the year, then breaking them into quarterly objectives, then monthly milestones, then weekly tasks, and finally, daily to-do lists. This layered approach has been crucial in reducing my anxiety and helping me stay on track without feeling overwhelmed.
Building Consistency—One Blog Post at a Time
One of the most intentional steps I’ve taken toward developing discipline is maintaining this blog. Writing regularly has always been something I wanted to do, but in the past, I lacked the structure and consistency to stick with it.
This year, like last year, I made a commitment: One blog post every Wednesday. No exceptions.
At first, the idea of that kind of commitment felt daunting. What if I didn’t feel inspired? What if I got too busy? What if I ran out of things to say? But I realized that discipline isn’t about waiting until I feel motivated. It’s about showing up, even when it’s hard.
And so far, I’ve stuck with it. Not only has it helped me improve my writing, but it has also made me reflect on what it means to truly commit to something. Discipline isn’t just about checking off tasks; it’s about character development. It’s about keeping promises to myself.
Reclaiming My Identity as a Writer
For years, I put writing on the back burner. I called myself everything else—marketing strategist, real estate professional —but I rarely introduced myself as a writer. It was always the last thing I mentioned, if I even mentioned it at all.
But the more I show up for this blog, the more I embrace writing as an essential part of my identity. The more I take writing seriously, the more opportunities seem to present themselves—almost like the universe has been waiting for me to step into this role fully.
I’ve already secured writing gigs this year. These are the kinds of opportunities I once thought were out of reach, but they’re happening now because I’m actively showing up as a writer.
What Is Discipline, Really?
Discipline isn’t about perfection. It’s not about getting everything right on the first try or never missing a deadline. Discipline is about commitment. It’s about showing up consistently, even when I don’t feel like it.
Most importantly, discipline is about keeping my word to myself. It’s about proving—day in and day out—that I can be trusted to follow through on my own goals. That I can set an intention and stick to it. That I am capable of doing hard things, not just in moments of high motivation but in the quiet, unglamorous, tedious in-between moments when the struggle is real.
And that’s the mindset I want to carry into everything I do—writing, work, fitness, personal growth. The end goal is important, sure. But what matters even more is the journey of becoming someone who honors their commitments.
So here’s to showing up. Here’s to sticking with it. Here’s to the discipline that turns dreams into reality—one small, consistent step at a time.
