The Difference Between Consistency and Congruency

You believe there a difference between congruency and consistency? A lot of people will answer, no. actually, the difference is huge both in execution and result.

Consistency implies similar patterns of behavior. The behavior, and thus the outcome, may be right or wrong, good or bad, helpful or destructive; with consistent behavior there is no requirement for introspection or consideration.

Congruence on the other hand requires personal reflection and careful} deliberation. Derived from the Latin word “congruere”, which means ‘to meet’ or ‘to agree’, congruence is the point at which your principles and beliefs align with your thoughts and actions.

Our work environments are great examples of consistent, yet not necessarily congruent, behavior. We do what we are told and we continue to do the same things over and again without thinking about why. We put ourselves basically on automatic pilot. However, to be truly fulfilled, we should come from a place of congruency; knowing we are being true to ourselves.

To be congruent, who you are, what you say, and the things you do are harmonious and unified.

On a personal level, congruency exists when your true desires, thoughts, feelings, and behavior are aligned with your core values. Only then can you move toward balance in your life and experience more joy, fulfillment, and inner peace. Congruence is about validating the deeper truth within you.

When you find your heart and mind pulled in diverse directions, or when your deeds belie your thoughts, your physical body starts to experience the effects of incongruence. Stress, inner conflict and disease thrive when congruence is threatened.

To reach your goals, to move your life in a positive direction, and to experience personal fulfillment, your thoughts, feelings, values, and actions should be aligned. Your thoughts are extremely potent as they hold the key to achieving success. If you let inconsistency enter your mind, your thoughts lose their collective power leaving you disquieted, conflicted, and anxious. Clearly congruence is essential. Achieving it starts with a sincere personal reflection. Consider the following strategies for an acclaimed life strategy coach

Become Mindful Of Your Intentions.

Your life’s energy is guided by your intentions, which determines the reality you experience. When you have conflicting intentions, you experience conflicting thoughts; the result is stress and anxiety.

Make A Conscious Intention To Change.

Every desire to change begins with the intention to do so. Speaking your intent is very different than just wishing or longing something. Observe the profound difference between, “I wish I could change this”, and “I intend to change this.”

Pay Attention To Your Most Dominant Thoughts.

The structure of your thoughts is revealed through your internal communication. You can radically change the quality of your life when you develop inner voices that serve, support, and are congruent with your real intentions. To determine whether your inner thoughts are supporting you or limiting you, ask yourself: “Would I say the same words to a friend, family member or a colleague who needs my support?” If the answer is no, then stop saying them to yourself.

Get In Touch With Your Body

The truth is often found in how you feel physically.Those knots and butterflies in your stomach, your feelings of anxiety or unease, your gut feelings; these are all signs of incongruence. When you are unsure of the best path, pay attention to how you feel and what your gut is telling you to do. The answers you find might surprise you and can be be insightful, truthful, and liberating.

To start yourself on the road to congruence today, begin by asking yourself the following life coaching questions:

In what areas of my life do I feel not fully congruent?
Where do I experience stress or inner conflict?
When am I not being true to myself?
What is missing in my life?
What values am I violating?
What would I like to have more of in my life?
What do I need to let go of to get them?

Your answers will set your self-discovery in the right direction. It’s up to you to make the choice between consistency and congruence. When you are ready to choose congruence, the disparate pieces of your life will come together in harmony, creating the perfect foundation for you to develop and flourish.

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