Monday, 4th May 2026.
The urge to go harder, do more, build faster - before the foundation is there. I continue to reach for intensity before I have earned it. The post that arrived on my feed was something I needed to see, and it got me thinking.
James Clear wrote that consistency needs to come before intensity. By building our new identity in the form of our foundation, we can develop our systems through consistency. Once we have proven to ourselves that our systems are in place, then we increase our intensity.
In my own life, I can identify a number of areas where this premature intensity exists. I look at my reading habits, weights training and morning routines are a few examples of areas where my systems were implemented at the same time as the high intensity. For example, I told myself that I would read 30 pages every day, workout in the morning before work, and write an article every week.
All of these things are doable, but my approach was incorrect. All new habits, everything at once, was a high intensity set of systems on an unknown (and inevitably inconsistent) foundation. I was figuring out my identity at the same time that I was implementing everything at once. It was as if I didn't give myself the time to figure out what works and what doesn't - one thing at a time - and make the necessary adjustments.
The assumption that every theoretical system will work for oneself is brave and optimistic, but unrealistic. That's why consistency must come first. Figure out the systems - the make up of positive habits that work for the individual, show up every day, and increase the intensity. In that order.
Identity is proof that the concept works. It is built from daily evidence that you are someone who shows up. Intensity is what you layer on top once the proof of concept exists. Jumping to intensity without cementing identity is why we continue to burn out or abandon things.
My takeaway from James Clear's post is that I need to pick one thing that I want to identify as. Then, I'll implement it and see if it works for me. If it doesn't work, I'll try something new. If it does work, I'll show up for this piece of identity every day, and prove to myself that I've earned an increase in intensity by stacking another system.
Talk soon.