Someone recently asked me, “How do you stay consistent?” My answer was simple: Do something every day until it becomes a part of you.

Consistency is something I’ve been known for in many areas of my life. When I look back, I realize it started as early as elementary school. I used to get perfect attendance. It wasn’t a goal I had. It was because there was no other option. There were no aunties or grandmas close by to watch us if we stayed home. So, every day, we went to school. If we ever felt sick enough to leave, we had to go to work with my mom. We stayed with her until she finished her shift. You can imagine how that option made school look a lot more appealing!

That routine built something in me—an ingrained sense of responsibility. Even now, I feel guilty if I ever have to call in sick to work. It’s like this little voice that reminds me to show up, no matter what.

But consistency didn’t stop at school or work. I’ve always had hobbies that required practice—drawing, writing, playing basketball, making beats, instruments, studio equipment—you name it. Growing up, I wanted to be good at many things. I knew I could only get better through practice. I always believed if you did your best consistently, improvement would follow.

I worked hard at being reliable, and I credit a lot of that to my upbringing. I was raised with strong morals, and it helped that I had great cartoons back then to keep me inspired! (Seriously, Saturday morning cartoons taught me more about perseverance than I realized at the time.)

Still, with all that said, it took me 40 years to fully put everything together. And that’s okay. I hope it doesn’t take you that long. If it does, just know it’s never too late to become the person you want to be.

So, if you want to be consistent, you have to decide to be. There’s no shortcut. Stick to it, even when it feels tough, even when you’d rather do anything else. The only way to make consistency work for you is to be your own “Ol’ Faithful.”

The person in the mirror? They’ve got your back 100%. They’ve always had your back. It’s always been up to you. So, decide to take control today. You’ve got this.

Now, here’s the challenge: Choose one thing you want to improve in your life. Commit to showing up every single day for the next 30 days for that improvement. Whether it’s your fitness, your art, or a habit you’ve been meaning to start—just show up. Post about it, keep track, and let’s see how consistency will transform you.

Start today. Your future self will thank you for it.