When it comes to developing a workout routine, a Bible reading plan or a robust prayer life amid an often-chaotic life, consistency is key.
In Episode 2 of Muscles + Mission, fitness expert Michele Sotak and K-LOVE’s Brent Adams discuss ways to show up for God and yourself daily.
“Make sure that you’re not doing all this to prove it to other people,” said Sotak, the founder of the Faith and Fitness program at Chicago’s Holy Name Cathedral and Master Trainer for LifeFitness/Hammer Strength, adding that God should be at the center of health and spiritual disciplines, and comparison to others is a dead end.
“As long as you find your identity (in Christ) and you know that you’re doing the right things that God approves of… then you don’t have to worry about proving it to other people.”
Sotak said choosing goals and building skills and habits that carry forward to future goals will help people avoid shallow goals that end with a single success or failure. The key to sustainability, she said, is consistency.
“If you’re devoted to something, you do it,” she said. “There’s going to be days in life where you’re not going to have a good day. When that happens, you still have to show up… And even if you didn’t get the best workout (or prayer or worship time), you still showed up and you know taking action is better than inaction.”
Another key to sustainability is goal setting, she added.
“Those goals might change and they evolve, but they can’t be shallow goals that just stop when you get the prize because you might be so turned off because you worked hard and didn’t get what you were hoping for,” Sotak said.
And that discouragement can be debilitating, but Sotak said that’s where prayer and resilience are important.
“The devil uses the tactic of discouragement,” Sotak said. “You were perfectly and wonderfully made in your mother’s womb, meaning that you are perfect and God will meet you on your unique journey. He will take you where he wants you to go.”
And Sotak’s challenge to anyone struggling to stay consistent in their fitness or spiritual walk or finding themselves comparing their activities to those of others?
“Let’s pray about it,” Sotak said. “And then try to hear those answers and not be so distracted.”
If you missed Episode 1 of Muscles + Mission, you can watch it here.