Consistency Conundrum { Reflections Redeemed}

 

                                     Article Pic

The Question of Consistency

The question of consistency is deeply intriguing. People often talk about consistency: some seek to become more consistent with what they believe, while others point fingers and defame reputations over a perceived lack of it. Consistency, as most people understand and strive for, refers to harmony within the self—alignment between ideas, convictions, and practices.

But are we, as humans, truly consistent?

Human Nature and the Struggle for Consistency

We may be consistent to a certain degree. However, each person works along their own path to become more consistent, because consistency is something that must be built and often runs against human nature. People frequently preach consistency while failing to embody it themselves, exposing the fragile and imperfect side of human consistency.

The truth is that we all attempt to accommodate consistency, as it is something we train ourselves to cultivate within. There are certainly degrees of self-consistency, yet we often lack the binding element—the glue—between our belief systems and our actual practices.

Belief, Practice, and Perception

While degrees of self-consistency vary, people often portray themselves as highly consistent and speak confidently about how consistent they are perceived to be. Nevertheless, consistency is not something one simply tries to display; it is what one genuinely believes and allows to be reflected through actions and practices.

There are many false and true manifestations of consistency, but nothing surpasses genuine conviction—where beliefs are honestly translated into action.

Consistency, Rationality, and Philosophy

The conundrum of consistency has existed for a long time. Consistency resembles rational thinking in this sense: humans are not naturally trained to rationalize their ideas and beliefs, yet they work to fit them within a rational framework. Ancient Greek philosophical schools developed multiple methods to cultivate rational thinking and align beliefs with practice, emphasizing consistency as a mindset rather than a performance.

Why Consistency Attracts

Humans are neither inherently rational nor consistent; they labor to become both. Consequently, individuals who display a high degree of consistency tend to be attractive to the majority, precisely because such traits are not naturally ingrained within us.

---

References 

1. Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics – Discusses virtue as a habit formed through consistent action.

2. Leon Festinger (1957), A Theory of Cognitive Dissonance – Explores the psychological tension between beliefs and actions.

3. Plato, The Republic – Addresses rational alignment of belief, reason, and behavior.

4. Epictetus, Discourses – Emphasizes consistency between philosophy and daily practice.

5. Daniel Kahneman (2011), Thinking, Fast and Slow – Examines limits of human rationality.