DIVE Back In
Navigating the Ebb and Flow of Consistency
I know what it’s like to start something with enthusiasm, only to watch that momentum fade into guilt and self-doubt. The cycle is familiar: the initial spark, the overcommitment, the inevitable burnout, the avoidance—and then the feeling of failure.
For years, I thought consistency meant never stopping. That if I couldn’t sustain something indefinitely, I wasn’t disciplined enough. But life doesn’t work like that, and neither do we.
The Myth of Perfect Consistency
We’re told that success comes from showing up every day, no matter what. But for those of us who experience energy fluctuations, shifting interests, or neurodivergent tendencies, this all-or-nothing mindset becomes a trap. If we can’t maintain the pace, we assume we’ve failed—so we quit.
But what if consistency wasn’t about never stopping but always returning?
The DIVE Framework: A New Approach to Consistency
Instead of beating myself up for losing momentum, I started seeing my efforts as waves—rising, falling, and always returning to shore. That’s when I thought of DIVE Back In as a way to reframe what consistency means to me. Maybe it resonates with others who struggle to stay consistent but refuse to give up.
Decide what’s important right now. Instead of forcing yourself to stick with something out of obligation, ask: Is this still the right priority for me?
Identify why you drifted. Was it boredom? Overwhelm? External stress? Understanding the reason makes restarting easier.
Value what you’ve already done. Instead of seeing breaks as failures, recognize what you’ve learned and how far you’ve come.
Do you need to adapt or pivot? Maybe you’ve gained a new insight that makes returning easier, or perhaps your original goal no longer fits and needs adjusting. Either way, stepping back gives you an opportunity for a fresh perspective.
Ease back in—without overcompensating. The urge to “make up for lost time” leads to burnout. Start small, and let momentum build naturally.
Failing Doesn’t Mean You’re Finished
If you’ve drifted off course, it doesn’t mean you’re incapable—it means you’re human. What matters is your ability to DIVE Back In, again and again.
For a while, I let the myth of perfect consistency convince me that losing momentum meant failure. What started as a short break from writing and posting stretched into six months. It began with research—trying to refine a goal-setting process that balances flexibility with an experimental mindset. But as time passed, I floated further away from writing, unsure of how to return.
So today, this brief article is my own DIVE Back In moment. It’s proof that you don’t have to be perfect to be consistent. You just have to return.
If you're reading this and feeling stuck, consider this your invitation to:
Start where you are.
Adjust as needed.
Trust that every wave brings you closer to your goal.
What project, habit, or goal have you drifted away from?
What’s one small stroke you can do today to start moving with the current instead of against it?
Until next time!
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