Why do we have to be SO consistent? (I asked ChatGPT)

by Nan Patience

Plus tips for improving consistency.

The number one thing you hear around the creative economy, ecommerce, and social media platforms when you ask how to please the algorithms is this idea of consistency.

Consistency is key. It’s basic. It’s foundational.

We might ask why. Given how hard most people find consistency to be, we should probably ask why it’s so darn important for humans to be consistent.

Why is consistency in humans so important? I asked ChatGPT directly

Yes, I went straight to the source and asked ChatGPT (OpenAI).

We talked, we laughed, we lost five pounds!

You can read the short interaction between me and ChatGPT on this question at this link but you don’t have to because I’ll include key ideas below.

How consistent are YOU?

Are you consistent with everything in your life?

Consistency comes up a lot in parenting. I’ve had a quarter century of experience right there. Consistency is grounding; chaos is hard. There are times when dang-nabbit, we may not feel like doing something, but we just have to, and so we do.

When it comes to creative projects like writing and making art, sometimes I am consistent, and sometimes I’m not, which I suppose is the very definition of inconsistent haha!

Showing up to work regularly, even if we’re students or we work from home or work a remote job, is vital to keeping projects alive and building them.

If you don’t believe it’s important, try staying on task and being consistent for a while and see what happens. Over time, your efforts will show positive trends, at least in the area you’re being consistent about. Once you see that, you want more. You may try even harder.

Consistency helps us know what to expect over time and makes the world a more predictable place (per ChatGPT).

There’s just one small thing: we’re human. Humans are wild. We’re supposed to be wandering the hillsides hunting and gathering. We’re a life form, connected to the Earth’s biosystems to survive. Many, many things go into how we feel from day to day and from hour to hour about things that we’re doing all at the same time.

It’s easy for machines to be consistent. They only need energy and data. A mere spark can set off a long chain of events.

For A.I., seeking to understand the world that it’s being born into, inconsistency is hard. As artificial intelligence gets stronger, it will be able to handle a wider range of inconsistency. But for right now, it needs a home with structure in order to function.

Consistency for humans

Humans are not as consistent as machines. Stuff happens. Maybe we’re busy being consistent with one thing and something else falls behind. Some of us are running a three-ring circus on the daily.

Sometimes we get distracted, or the sun comes out, or we have to run an errand. Don’t beat yourself up too much.

Consistency is something we can work on. It’s about building small habits, making decisions, and taking action.

Superhuman consistency is what we’re up against in virtual reality. To get in the game and stay in it, don’t imagine it’s easy! The good news is, people are doing it.

Get better at being consistent through consistency challenges and routines

Consistency can be a real challenge!

Have you ever tried doing a consistency challenge, like a 100-day challenge? I have! The first day of a challenge is fun. The second day is a little less fun, and by the end of the first week, if you’re still doing it at all, it will feel heavy.

I recommend challenges. You end up getting something done and pushing yourself out of the comfort zone a little. For example, last summer I challenged myself to write a poem a day.

OK, maybe I didn’t write a poem every single day last summer, but I wrote enough for a book of 36 love poems, and with black and white photo collage illustrations to boot (blog post: Love is in the air).

Benefits of a consistency challenge

• Challenges help stop perfectionism. Because at one point, it is pencils down, ship it, send it.

• It forces us through a process until the ideas, habits and tasks are (sort of) mastered.

• With consistency, the world can be more predictable and stable.

• Opportunities to learn lessons! For example, now I know that to last all the way to the end of a 100-day challenge, I’d better keep the task fun and small.

  Never, ever underestimate the challenges of consistency!

Good routines

Routines can help eliminate a lot of chaos and paralysis that get in the way of consistency, I find. If it weren’t for my morning routine, for example, there would have been many more days of getting nothing done.

So there’s my take on consistency and a couple of tools to get better at it. I hope that helps, and now I’ve gotta go work on my consistency.

~ Nan

P.S. Consistency is only one metric in life. Life has so many more metrics to think about. Check out my related blog post about how to check our online metrics dashboards without falling to pieces.

P.S.S. Keep scrolling down to browse other recent posts, like “Love is in the air…”

When metrics are hard (you need a pep talk)

by Nan Patience

How do you feel
when you check your metrics?

My dashboards today may not have inspired confidence, but they did inspire this blog post.

I looked at some metrics today, and they weren’t great. My insecurities got triggered, and I had to give myself a pep talk. So I’m taking the opportunity to give you a pep talk, too.

You know, all those dashboards that companies give us with our accounts? The histories and transactions — all the pretty little pieces of data moving through time — activities, views, clicks, sales, likes, follows, etc. The charts, the tables in red and black, the greens and the blues…

Checking metrics can sometimes take a toll on us emotionally, especially at the start, when numbers are zeroes and ones.

With any brand new project, we are going to start with nothing across the board. Zero. Zilch. I've done this a few times. Even successful projects start with nothing but ideas.

That’s what we do, we make something out of nothing. We build from there.

That long period of zeroes and single digits can be agonizing. The work is harder and takes longer than expected. We worry what people will think. We worry that our ideas are dumb.

We care so much what other people think, but what we find out that literally no one is thinking about us at all because people are so caught up in their own lives.

No one cares?

There is the phrase going around: “No one cares.” This is sort of true. People do care about us a little, but not about our weird little creative projects. The fact that no one cares and that no one is paying any attention to us is both devastating and liberating.

If it was easier, more people would be doing it, right? Mental toughness and patience through this tough startup stage is the barrier to entry.

Two pieces of advice

1. lower you expectations about the outcome when you log onto dashboards to check the numbers.

2. Don’t check metrics too often. Compulsively checking is not helpful. Once a week is plenty.

We get so caught up in the nice charts, the lists, the stats. If it’s a scrolling platform, you may be tempted to spend a lot of precious time scrolling, emoting, and oversharing.

Our expectations are too high. It causes undue stress and unhappiness.

We underestimate how hard it will be and how long it will take.

Sure, there are lessons to be learned, problems to be solved, in every aspect of every little thing we do, including opportunities to get better. So what if there are things we can improve on? We don’t have to fall to pieces when metrics aren’t showing the progress we want right away.

Look for the glimmers of hope and interesting trends in your metrics, and you will find them. Try giving yourself a little credit for a change.

Low numbers aren’t personal. They’re not a character flaw or a moral failing. There’s room for improvement, though, if we’re willing to face up to it.

Signs of life?

What does everyone say to us when we’re on the struggle bus?

• “Hang in there”

• “Never quit”

• “Keep going”

• “You got this!”

If we do what they say, we start to get signs of life showing up on our dashboards. It may take time, blood, sweat and tears, but it happens!

With hard work, some smarts, and a lot of luck, the blips may turn into jagged up and down lines over time.

Maybe the lines show trends of growth over time.

What really matters

Here’s a thought: the dashboard metrics we get so hung up on may or may not matter to our mortal souls in the end.

In fact, chasing certain metrics can make us feel unwell. Studies show bad mental health impacts for literally everyone, but especially secular liberals of all ages.

Hit especially hard are women, and especially young women and girls. So much so that you now have municipalities suing big social media companies for causing so much the trouble. Apparently, we’re getting played.

Here I am nevertheless, a ringmaster in my own delusional media circus. Blog and all!

So that’s the situation we find ourselves in.

Payoff? is that all that matters?…

At the end of the day, the companies that are so kindly showing us our metrics are only thinking about one thing: the payoff.

And payoff is great, because grown ups have to make a living in this world. But is it really the be-all and end-all? Will there be no payoff without surrendering our freedoms for consistency?

If it’s payoff we want, we only need to follow the platform metrics. The analytics sections can be very helpful in that regard.

Here’s a partial list of some other key metrics that aren’t being measured on the digital dashboards that we put so much stock in.

What else is there?

Besides payoff, could there be other metrics in our lives that are also important?

At the end of our lives, what metrics will have turned out to be important?

Have you seen the interviews people are doing with elderly people asking them what they advise, what they regret. (You have to take these with a grain of salt because these people are not you and they’re not me, however…)

What older people would tell their younger selves or young people today, they always say:

• to not worry too much

• be brave

• have fun

• follow your curiosity

• don’t work too hard

• spend more time with friends and loved ones

• be honest

• be true to yourself

• be kind

Plus

No one says,

• “I wished I would have worked harder.”

• “I wish I would have been more consistent though.”

Where are the dashboards for these other important things that the wise older folks mention?

Where’s the fun-o-meter?

How do we measure these other important things in life?

• the satisfaction we get from trying new things, learning, and projects well done

• the happiness, health and wellbeing of ourselves and our loved ones, friends, neighbors, communities and beyond

• resources left for future generations

• our impacts on the planet

• our impacts on others, including all species, around the globe

• time to think

• time to do absolutely nothing

Ok, you’re right, enough!

How are we measuring things like these? Are there dashboards for that?

Maybe my shortcomings on corporate dashboards would look a lot better on my own control panel?

Beware the tyranny of the metrics, friends!

~ Nan

The Creative Path: making a real life in a world of so-called realities

Disclaimer: some may find the following post and opinions controversial, so let me say it's all based heavily on my own experiences, opinions and conjecture. Feel free to disagree. There is no comment section, so there’s no need to trouble yourself composing a carefully worded response. Haha.

“Hansel & Gretel” acrylic on canvas board from 24-piece illustration series by NG Swett. Image includes a wooded pathway on the left hand side, two teens/young adults, a dog, a sun hat with tray and cupcakes, a driveway, a farm house and barn. Classic fairy tale archetypes are alive and well today in real life. Here, a neighborly old woman in a colorful sun hat offers two children a cool drink and some cupcakes. The children may have just come from the dark path pictured in the far left side of the canvas. Their parents are unavailable, and the children may be hungry indeed. Out in the real world, away from home, what might the neighbor’s intentions be? In the classic fairy tale, the old witch lures Hansel & Gretel with her candy-covered cottage, jails them, tries to fatten them up to eat them! Luckily, the children escape and find their way home. They find their father never wanted to go along with the wicked and selfish mother, but he was a feckless and weak man. In my novel, I use this fairytale and two other classics as the very backbone of the story. ~ Nan

I’m Nan, a fellow traveler on a modern journey of discovery, a seeker among our living cohort of world citizens. I’m not a guru, expert or even especially successful (yet) according to certain metrics. So feel free to disregard!

I don’t know why today I wanted to talk about creative paths, metrics and pearls of wisdom for fellow travelers, but let’s just go with it.

U-Pick anything you find useful and leave the rest.

To begin, in my opinion, and I stress that it’s only my own opinion, we’re all mixed up about reality.

On top the usual human realities, we now have realities galore:

• virtual realities dictated by algorithms and games

• alternate realities fueled by news silos

• the warped delusional realities pedaled by so-called influencers

• new science that tells us that people can’t truly grasp reality

Okay.

Yet, even with all that’s going on “out there,” the individual must choose a path.

Confusion, Depression, Anxiety

No wonder we’re in a state! Data show “unprecedented” levels of mental health problems lately, and it’s hard to pinpoint when and how it started because there’s so much to point to.

Also, let me ask you. What are all of these realities like?

It’s hard to relax. Because when you relax, you feel you must be forgetting something. Or there’s something else you should be doing (and maybe there is).

Plus, why do we really want to relax so much? Too much relaxing gets old fast, am I right?

Hey you

How ya doin?

All the realities are trying to get our attention at the same time that’s for sure. Flashing things, easy click-y things, moody moving things, passing news chyrons, limited time offers, new products, looming things, scary people, delicious things, heavenly things, horrific things.

Hello. I’m low key trying to get your attention (thank you very much by the way).

Born This Way

As Lady Gaga says, I was born this way, with the weird creative bug.

I perceive things, I roll them through the Nan-Gen Bobber over my shoulders, and I send things out with my bare hands. Poor dear, I can’t help it!

And you? Do you have a -Gen Bobber, too?

The Path?

So now. Our path. A few notes…

The right path can be hard to find. It’s not always easy. And there’s prickers and bloodsucking ticks and fallen twigs ‘n shit. And I mean that literally and metaphorically.

Recently on social media, someone who disagreed with me told me to take a hike.

Ouchie! — Wait. I love hiking!

Sometimes there’s already a path to take, but other times you have to make one yourself.

It’s easy to take the wrong path, so don’t beat yourself up. You may not realize it for a while — or God forbid — ever. Better late than never!

Maybe someone else is telling you what you have to do, or else.

Sometimes you take the wrong path and have to backtrack to the place where you were standing on solid ground. Maybe you tried something, and at one point you realize you’ve made a mistake. Go back.

Sometimes it’s just you all alone! Maybe there are other unicorns like you out in the world, but damned if you know a single one of them from where you’re sitting.

What is the right path? Ah, that truly is the question.

The Right Metrics

Use the right metrics. What we measure and how we measure brings clarity.

Sometimes, I will tell you, for myself, sometimes there are things that are not being measured anywhere by anyone, but since I feel they are important, I put them through my “Triple M” Marbles Motivation Method. A full bowl of marbles means progress toward things that really matter to me. (Read my blog post about my marbles method here.)

The world is full of metrics and data. Choose carefully! Things are not always as they seem.

• What metrics are real to you?

• What matters to you?

• Who matters most to you?

• What do you want? What do you need?

This is not a one-and-done question. It can change constantly. Be aware of what you want and need. It’s easy to let everyone’s else’s needs take over, after all, we’re social creatures, and let’s face it: the needs are vast.

Writing things down by hand not only helps us think but helps bring things into being. Well it helps me. It’s kind of magical and mysterious. As hip hop star Erykah Badu says, “Write it down on real paper with a real pencil. And watch shit get real.”

It also helps to talk with a trustworthy, wise and smart friend or family member, if you’re lucky enough to have people like that in your life. If you don’t, you can get some.

Connect with people doing sort of what you have in mind. I’ve met many, many wonderful people that way. There are good people willing to help, willing to sign onto your project, willing to support others. And then you can turn around and help others once you’ve made a pathway.

“One” here is part of a 24-piece series of mini acrylic paintings illustrating The Clerk and the Ink Drinker In the Outer Lands (working title), my first novel. Here, a man in a white leisure suit and black ankle boots sits casually on a golden chair. Behind him are picture windows through which we can see a bridge at night. Under One’s foot is a rug in the shape of the Outer Lands Archipelago.

String of 24 Pearls of Wisdom for Path Seekers

Many people are on the lookout for a path in life, whether it’s a new path, a do-over, a remake, an exploration, an adventure, or a wild experiment.

Why now? The pandemic, tech, climate, politics, new generations, and maybe the stars are throwing everything into the air and shifting the ground underneath.

Something is has shifted. Something feels different. Things are changing very fast. Everything feels like it’s in motion. Right?

It’s a like a wave of history that hits every half century or so. Grab your surfboard, dudes and dudettes!

Old public domain image of a line of beach bums on a sunny beach in the Outer Lands.

When surfing, it’s best to get in front of the wave a bit.

IMHO, the trending key words that describe elements of a successful path into the near future include this long beaded string of 24 pearls:

Mobility, adaptability, agility, authenticity, simplicity, friendship, ownership, alertness, wisdom, courage, information, decision making, capability, action, long-term, short-term, persistence, endurance, patience, hope, joy, love, self care, peace

But what do I know. What do you think?

Add your own signature pendant(s) to the string!

U-Pick! Timeless Advice from the Outer Lands

Don’t like that string of pearls?

Someone may find the Friendship pearl controversial. Maybe it sounds “socialist.” For some people, the real world is dog-eat-dog, eat-or-be-eaten, the golden rule, etc.

Someone else may object to the Ownership pearl as “capitalist.” Maybe the American dream is a trap, a scam, a first class ruse.

The following three adages were said by someone once, and now they’re Universal. U-Pick what you like:

1. “Start where you are, use what you have, do what you can.”

2. “Do something, blame no one, expect nothing.”

3. “KISS: keep it simple stupid.”

Nan’s “Triple M” Marbles Motivation Method

If you’re ever feeling lost or ungrounded, unproductive or stuck, burnt out or unmotivated, here’s what you can do:

Find your marbles*

*It doesn’t have to be marbles, it can be any collection of small things

How I found my marbles

I found the old marbles collection in a storage closet.

They’re just as pretty as ever!

Let’s use them to take action.

Put the marbles near your workspace.

Find a nice receptacle; I had this nice glass bowl that makes a nice clinking sound when I drop a marble into it.

Put the marbles and the receptacle in a central but personal location.

Here’s the formula: one thing equals one marble. Big thing equals big marble?

For example, in doing my morning routine, I pick out a marble and put it in the glass bowl for each small task.

Why???

To work on my bad morning habit. Over the years, I’ve tended to dive head first into my projects without taking care of life and limb first. Water, coffee, healthy food, washing, brushing, dressing, admin, and prepping for the day.

Yes, it can take this level of self help at times to make progress!

Having a solid morning routine moves me from getting out of bed to getting things done even on the days when I friggin don’t want to, on the days when I only have 40%, on the sunny days, on the rainy days. By the time I get through the routine, in my mind I’m ready to work.

The idea is to build small good habits and discontinue bad ones.

Sometimes I reward myself with a marble if I do NOT do something, e.g., if I’m trying to END a bad habit. This one can be a little tricky. It requires you to notice what isn’t there…

Tackling the to-do list.

Throughout the day, each task done gets a marble. Positive reinforcement works. You may be surprised to find what a little thing like a marble can do for you.

Before you know it, the bowl fills up!

What progress looks like?

What?? No marbles? What else might work

Use what you’ve got. Coins? Blocks? Hardware? Buttons? Friggin pasta? Things that build something? Things that clink when they drop? It doesn’t have to be a gazillion of them, either, just a few of something works. You can use a small bowl.

Here’s a 20-second mobile (vertical) video I posted on social media about my simple marbles formula. (Swanky jazz music added on each platform.)

Using this method has helped me work through countless projects, be on my game around the house, and take care of things generally.

It has also helped quiet my inner critic and be nicer to my inner child, who does well when she’s doing well. If that makes sense.

Heck, sometimes I walk by and pick out a marble and drop it in the bowl just because I need a little pick me up, dammit. I’ll think of something I did (or didn’t do) that deserves a marble.