If I could bestow two traits -- I would give everyone Consistency & Flexibility.

The key here is the combination. If we just cultivate consistency - we can stagnate, become boring or too rigid. If we are solely focused on flexibility - we might not see results that come from having a stable process.

While these might seem like a paradox or too hard to grow simultaneously -- it's possible to create a container that will foster both.

Think: Predictable, Reliable, Credible, Stable, Certain & Enduring

In a nutshell, consistency leads to habits which over time impact our performance and productivity. We focus on the present action and maintain a wide angle view to help us measure results & impact.

It's not about obtaining quick results - it's about incremental progress.

It's not just repetition. When we're consistent, we regularly receive data and feedback that allows us to adjust our actions to help us stay on track. When we do this, we improve our efficiency and effectiveness as we go.

Are you saving a little of your paycheck each week? Probably won't look like much this month or even this year. But over time it will compound and you will have a nice nest egg.

Are you overeating "a little" each day? Probably won't make much difference today, next week or maybe even next month. But down the road, you might find yourself wondering, "Where did all this belly fat come from?"

For a deep dive on how consistency factors into continuous improvement, check out this article from James Clear: Continuous Improvement

What makes consistency hard is that we are wired and conditioned to seek instant gratification. If we don't see immediate results, we may not see the point in sticking with our plan.

Think: Adaptable, Go With the Flow, Change, Shape, Grow, Stretch, Resilient

Physical flexibility allows us to move with bodily ease throughout our life. Psychological flexibility allows us to respond to what life serves up. It provides the ability to find alternative ways which is key when we find ourselves stuck on a path that isn't working. Research has identified psychological flexibility as a predictor of our mental health, effectiveness, performance and ability to handle significant life stressors.

With relationships? Work expectations? Adapting to change?

How easy is it to shift your mindset?

Can you touch your toes?

Steven Hayes, a co-developer of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), outlines the 6 processes of psychological flexibility in his book, A Liberated Mind.

Values are not DNA - they can and often do, change throughout life. Values are beliefs and qualities that point us toward meaning & purpose in our life. It's what we care about most. We bring them to life by the way we act on a daily basis.

Right here. Right now. What is actually going on?

Acceptance in ACT means being willing to open up to our full experience, rather than trying to control it. It doesn't mean you're okay with everything. It does mean not avoiding. It's about accepting the positive and the negative and making room for both.

Observe yourself. What are you thinking? What are you feeling? What are you doing? YOU, and everything around you, exists in a context that is interdependent and interrelated to the world in which you live.

Thoughts are real but they're not always true. Recognize they are just that - thoughts - simply words or pictures that your mind creates. Defusion is the ability to step back and create some space from those thoughts so you can choose how you want to act.

Take effective action that aligns with your values. Choose to live in a way that supports what you care about and who you want to be.

They can be a check & balance for one another.

We can have a healthy tension between the two.

Life is complicated and more than one attribute or trait is needed for successful navigation. Consistency & Flexibility are two "Go-To" qualities that Expand What is Possible, Create Success and Guide Us to the Life We Want.