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May 8, 2024 • 19 mins

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Ever wonder how the seemingly small act of starting your day with a simple habit can lead to monumental changes in your life? Uncover the secret to personal excellence as I, Harkeran, take you through a transformative journey on Balance Baby, demonstrating how the art of habit consistency isn't just about discipline, but about smartly weaving new routines into your life at the most opportune moments. This episode is packed with wisdom, from Aristotle's insights on excellence to the practical, life-altering strategy of 'no zero days'. Together, we'll reflect on how our habits evolve with our changing priorities and how each step, no matter how small, is a step toward aligning with our highest self.

The adventure doesn't stop at habit formation; it's the mindset and attitude accompanying these habits that turn them into the bedrock of success. Join me as we dissect the mental blueprints that guide us to our aspirations and how a positive outlook can be our compass amidst life's distractions. I'll share how perseverance and a growth mindset aren't just buzzwords, but essential tools for resilience that empower us to celebrate each victory, no matter its size. By the end of our session, you'll have a clearer map of how to turn consistency into growth and mastery, and why having a community to cheer you on makes the journey all the richer. Remember, every Wednesday, we're here to support each other and savor the beauty this life has to offer.

Join our community of radiant souls. Subscribe and tune in every Wednesday to hear the latest episode. Be a part of a vibrant tribe that supports, inspires, and grows together.

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Episode Transcript

Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Harkaren (00:03):
Hello everyone and welcome to Balance Baby, the
podcast designed to help youconsistently show up as the best
version of yourself.
My name is Harkaren and I'll beyour host.
I'll be here every week sharingstories and teaching you
techniques to prioritize theonly thing we have any control

(00:25):
over in this world ourselves.
This past weekend I attended anevent and got to meet so many
like-minded people.
I was speaking with a few ofthe other attendees when we got
onto the topic of meditationpractices.

(00:46):
One of the women said that she'sbeen trying to get into a
15-minute morning meditationpractice but she's been
struggling because it's so mucheasier to press snooze.
How many of us can relate tothat.
I started to tell her about myown meditation journey and how
long it's taken me to get into aconsistent practice.

(01:09):
I also offered her a differentperspective.
First, her focus should be onmaking meditation convenient for
herself.
So, although it is beneficialto meditate first thing in the
morning, and although herintention is to meditate first
thing in the morning, it mightbe easier to incorporate

(01:32):
meditation later in her day,just to get started.
So, for example, if she feelsthe need to snooze in the
morning, maybe she can fit hermeditation in around 9 or 10 am
when she takes a break forcoffee, or maybe she can do it
at the end of her day if shefeels that's better suited with

(01:55):
her schedule.
The point is you need to startby making the habit convenient
for you.
Then, once you startexperiencing the benefits and
you start enjoying doing it, youwill naturally find ways to fit
the new habit into your dailyroutine.
You will naturally start wakingup 15 minutes earlier because

(02:19):
you want to meditate, notbecause you're trying to force
yourself to, and this works forall habits, not just meditation.
Start by making it convenientfor you, then become consistent
at it, and then naturally youwill begin prioritizing it.

(02:40):
When we focus on enjoying thehabits we are trying to build
and when we focus on making itconvenient for us, we allow more
space for consistency andgradual progress.
Aristotle has a famous quotethat says we are what we

(03:00):
repeatedly do.
Excellence, then, is not an actbut a habit.
This quote reminds us that ourdaily actions and behaviors
define who we are and what webecome.
It reminds us that greatness isnot the result of a single

(03:21):
heroic effort, but instead acombination of small, repeated
actions performed withdedication and intention, making
your habits convenient andgiving yourself flexibility is
often the key to getting startedand staying consistent.

(03:41):
Consistency can be defined asthe steady, reliable repetition
of actions or behaviors overtime.
In personal development,consistency is like the glue
that holds everything together.
It's the daily commitment toshowing up, putting in the work

(04:01):
and making progress, even whenit's hard or we don't feel like
it.
Imagine you have a goal,whether it's advancing in your
career, getting healthier orlearning a new skill,
consistency is what takes thatgoal from a dream to a reality.

(04:21):
It's about making small,manageable steps towards your
goal every day, whether you feelmotivated or not.
It's about showing up even whenit's tough, and trusting that
your efforts will pay off in thelong run.
Consistency helps you buildtrust with yourself and with

(04:44):
others and is the key tounlocking your full potential
and achieving your goals.
It's about making a commitmentto yourself and your dreams and
then following through withaction, day in and day out.
When we embark on our personalgrowth journey, there is usually

(05:07):
a significant gap between ourcurrent self and our ideal self.
We might discourage ourselvesby trying to embody our ideal
self and not quite being able to.
So think about the woman I metthis weekend I met this weekend.

(05:29):
If she kept trying to meditatein the morning and she stayed
focused on that and she keptfailing, she might never get the
benefits of meditation.
She might never adopt thathabit, no matter how good it
feels when she does do it.
But by adding the concept ofconvenience into her habit
building, she now has moreflexibility and is able to learn

(05:51):
to trust herself by meditatingwhen it's convenient for her.
By showing up for herself,she's building trust and
self-discipline and eventuallyI'm very sure that she will
begin loving meditation and shewill begin prioritizing
meditation.
But to get started she needs tostart when it's convenient for

(06:15):
her.
Small daily actions may seeminsignificant on their own, but
when they compound over time,they can lead to remarkable
results.
When they compound over time,they can lead to remarkable
results.
Through consistent effort youwill begin to make gradual
progress towards your ideal self.
Too often we approach personalgrowth with the mindset of

(06:42):
achieving a specific goal orreaching a certain milestone in
life.
I encourage you to reframe yourmindset and embrace the idea
that our personal growth journeyis for life.
There is no rush, there is nodeadline and there's no finish
line.
It's about the journey, theprocess and the continuous

(07:05):
evolution of becoming the bestversion of ourselves.
My approach to consistencycompletely changed when I was
introduced to the concept of nozero days.
If you haven't heard of thisbefore, the concept of no zero
days revolves around the idea ofconsistency and small progress.

(07:30):
Essentially, you're committingto putting in consistent effort
towards your personaldevelopment, no matter how small
.
As someone who is superfree-spirited, I always thought
I preferred to have flexibilityin my days, but it turns out I
actually thrive when I'mfollowing a routine.

(07:51):
I change my routines as I seefit, and often with a change of
the seasons.
For example, in the winter thedays are shorter, so I may not
have enough time to fit in botha workout and a walk before the
sun goes down, and in the summerit's unlikely that I would have

(08:11):
a bedtime routine starting at9pm if the sun's still out.
My routines also change with mypriorities.
Sometimes I'm prioritizing myfitness, other times my career,
and currently I'm prioritizingstaying aligned with my highest
self, because I finallyunderstand that by being aligned

(08:35):
with my higher self, everythingelse will work itself out.
The way I track my habits hasevolved over time as well.
I used to have a task formeditation, another for
affirmations, another for energycleansing, another for walking
my dog, another for working out,etc.
Etc.

(08:56):
It made me feel productive tohave these lists, but it also
made me feel completely defeatedif I couldn't check everything
off of my list.
Completely defeated if Icouldn't check everything off of
my list.
I would be so strict withmyself for no reason.
Instead of acknowledging a walkas a workout, I would only
count gym workouts as a workout.

(09:17):
So silly I know.
Currently, I have about sevendaily tasks that I track on a
habit tracking app, and I'mgoing to break them down for you
here, in no particular order.
Nutrition this one includesmacro tracking, taking my
vitamins and hitting my waterintake goals.

(09:38):
Then we have exercise.
This can be gym pilates or awalk.
Be gym pilates or a walk.
Usually I do at least two ofthese, but I'm happy if I do at
least one.
Next is spiritual self-care.

(09:58):
This can be anything from mytoolbox, basically everything I
taught you in season one and alot of what I'm about to teach
you in season two, whatever I'mfeeling up for.
So maybe that's journaling, efttapping, reciting affirmations,
energy cleansing or a rampageof appreciation.
Next I have meditation, so somepeople might loop this in with
spiritual self-care, but I liketo keep it as its own separate

(10:21):
habit because it's kind of likea non-negotiable for me.
Next, I have passion projectkind of like a non-negotiable
for me.
Next, I have passion project,so that's spending a minimum of
30 minutes a day working onsomething I'm passionate about,
like this podcast.
Then I have skincare, which ispretty self-explanatory.
This includes oil cleansing,gua sha, face masks, serums,

(10:43):
body scrubs or whatever else Ithink my skin might need that
day.
And lastly, is do something formom.
This is a habit I startedrecently and I started it with
the intention of selflessservice for someone in my life.
By adding this into my routine,I get the opportunity to do

(11:04):
something kind for someone Ilove every day.
It keeps my vibrations high andallows me to show my
appreciation.
These habits are personal to meand relate to my current goals.
Some days I complete 100% of mytasks and other days I might
complete less than 30%, but theimportant thing is that I never

(11:28):
let myself hit 0%.
By prioritizing continuity overperfection, I'm using a system
that supports my goals whileallowing for the natural
fluctuations of daily life,instead of being rigid with my
routine.

(11:51):
Life.
Instead of being rigid with myroutine, I focus on maintaining
momentum.
This mindset shift fromall-or-nothing thinking to a
more forgiving and sustainableapproach is the key to long-term
success.
Even on days when I accomplishless than I had hoped for, the
fact that I've taken stepstowards my goals is something I
can be proud of.
Progress is not aboutperfection, but about consistent

(12:14):
effort and resilience in theface of challenges and never
giving up.
The difference between you andsomeone who is living their
dream life is that they nevergave up.
By adopting a mindset of no zerodays, you commit to taking at
least one small step, no matterhow minor, towards your goals

(12:39):
each day.
This approach, rooted incontinuous improvement, plays a
major role in productivity andpersonal development.
It emphasizes that every dayshould be valued and utilized
for personal growth andadvancement.
So how do you get started?
The initial step in adoptingthe no-zero-days philosophy

(13:04):
involves a mental shift towardsrecognizing the value of each
day.
Acknowledge that even thesmallest efforts contribute to
progress and are crucial in thegrand scheme of personal
development.
Then establish clear objectives.
Define specific, actionablegoals that will align with your

(13:26):
long-term visions.
Next, implement and track thedaily habits you've chosen to
help you reach your goals.
Be sure to celebrate yourconsistency along the way, and
remember to give yourself grace.
If you do happen to have a zeroday, don't be so hard on

(13:46):
yourself that you derail yourprogress and discourage yourself
from continuing.
Maybe you missed your workouttoday.
The best thing you can do is totry not to let it happen again
tomorrow.
Consistency is the key.
Striving for consistencyundoubtedly has its challenges,

(14:07):
and one of the most significantobstacles is often perfectionism
.
The pursuit of perfection canleave us feeling overwhelmed and
paralyzed, so it's important toshift our focus from perfection
to progress.
Embracing the concept ofimperfect progress reminds us
that even the smallest stepsforward are valuable and bring

(14:30):
us closer to our goals.
By acknowledging that growth isa journey filled with ups and
downs, we can release thepressure of perfection and allow
ourselves to celebrate eachmilestone along the way.
Starting small is another keystrategy for overcoming the
challenges of consistency.
It's easy to get caught up inthe excitement of a new goal and

(14:54):
habit, only to becomeoverwhelmed by the sheer number
of tasks we've set out forourselves.
By breaking our goals down intomanageable steps and focusing
on one thing at a time, we canavoid feeling overwhelmed and
increase our chances of success.
Taking incremental steps allowsus to build momentum gradually,

(15:16):
making it easier to stayconsistent over the long term.
Unexpected life events areinevitable and learning to stay
flexible is essential formaintaining consistency, whether
it's a sudden change inschedule or a last-minute
obligation.
Being adaptable allows us toadjust our plans and continue

(15:39):
making progress towards ourgoals, instead of letting
setbacks derail our efforts.
We can find alternative ways tostay on track, such as
completing our habits atdifferent times or in a
different setting.
By remaining adaptable andresilient in the face of
challenges, we can overcome theobstacles to consistency.

(16:03):
Learning to embrace consistencyin our daily lives has so many
benefits.
By committing to showing up andputting in effort every day, we
open doors to personal growthand self-discovery.
Through this consistent effort,we develop new skills, gain a
deeper understanding ofourselves and become better

(16:25):
versions of ourselves over time.
Consistency can also lead tomastery the feeling of becoming
really good at something we'repassionate about.
This sense of mastery boostsour confidence and motivates us
to continue improving.
Finally, consistency brings adeep sense of fulfillment and

(16:47):
satisfaction.
Achieving goals, whether big orsmall, through consistent
effort leaves us feeling proudof our accomplishments and
reinforces our belief in ourself.
Thank you so much for tuning into my fourth episode of season

(17:08):
two.
The importance of mindset andattitude in fostering
consistency cannot be overstated.
Having the right mindset setsthe stage for success by
influencing how we approachchallenges and setbacks.
It's like having a mentalroadmap that guides our actions

(17:29):
and decisions towards our goals.
A positive attitude fuelsself-discipline, helping us stay
focused and committed to ourroutines and habits even when
faced with distractions ortemptations.
It's about making a consciouschoice to prioritize our
long-term goals over short-termgratification.

(17:50):
Additionally, perseverance iskey to maintaining consistency.
It's the determination to keepgoing, even when things get
tough or progress seems slow.
Even when things get tough orprogress seems slow, by adopting
a growth mindset and viewingsetbacks as opportunities for
learning and growth, wecultivate resilience and

(18:15):
persistence in the face ofadversity.
Finally, positive reinforcementplays a crucial role in
sustaining consistency.
Celebrating small victories andacknowledging progress, no
matter how small, boosts ourmotivation and reinforces our
commitment to our goals.
Give yourself a pat on the backfor a job well done, remind

(18:38):
yourself that your efforts arepaying off and encourage
yourself to keep going.
In essence, embracingconsistency lays the groundwork
for a fulfilling and meaningfullife.
By committing to showing upconsistently, we open ourselves
up to growth, mastery,resilience and fulfillment,

(19:02):
making it all worthwhile in theend.
And fulfillment making it allworthwhile in the end.
If you're finding value in thispodcast, don't forget to hit
the subscribe button and shareit with your friends and family.
I'll be back next Wednesday forepisode five.
Together, here, we're creatinga community of beautiful souls

(19:24):
ready to uplift each other,ready to experience all the joy
that this life has to offer us.
And don't forget, life is allabout balance, baby.
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