Discernment and Consistency

Two words that have been top of mind lately: discernment and consistency. I believe these two qualities form the foundation of a lot progress in life. Both in personal growth and in the pursuit of any meaningful goal.

Discernment to me is the ability to filter through the noise and recognize what’s worth your time, energy, and attention. We live in a world with an abundance of information, opinions, and distractions. That means having a strong internal filter is more valuable than ever. If you don’t know what you’re aiming at, consistency becomes directionless. I don’t think you can be effective until you’re first intentional.

That’s why discernment comes first. It’s about knowing what to pursue, what to ignore, and what to let go of. Once you’ve done that, then consistency comes into play. Progress doesn’t typically come from a quick sprint or burst in my experience. It comes from showing up consistently and thoughtfully iterating when necessary. But repetition only leads to growth if you’re repeating the right things.

That said, consistency without discernment can hinder you. You can’t just keep doing something because it worked once. The world changes and that sometimes means you need to change. You have to regularly check in with yourself to ask: Is this still the right thing to be doing? That’s where the loop between discernment and consistency really matters—one guides the other.

Sometimes, you’ll get it wrong. You’ll be consistent with the wrong thing. But even in failure, you gain clarity. You’re constantly learning what doesn’t work, and that sharpens your filter for what might.

None of this is a revolutionary idea, but I think it’s easy to forget. Life often gets overcomplicated. We chase shortcuts or novelty, but often the answer is simple: Discern what’s right, then do it with consistency. Reassess. Adjust. Repeat.