A Guide to What Never Changes
I spend my days helping others build structure, consistency, and accountability in their fitness journeys. I preach these principles daily. And yet, if I’m being honest, I was dropping the ball in my own life. I’d set deadlines and miss them. I’d make big plans and let them collect dust. I kept telling myself I’d catch up when things calmed down—but they never did.
One evening, after a particularly frustrating day of playing catch-up, I picked up Same as Ever by Morgan Housel. Within a few pages, it felt like I was reading about myself. Housel’s insights on human nature—the patterns we repeat, the mistakes we make, the lies we tell ourselves—hit close to home. And as I kept reading, I started recognizing those same patterns in my clients at Elevate. The most successful ones weren’t the most talented or the most motivated. They were the ones who understood, whether consciously or not, the truths that Housel laid out.
The Illusion of the Perfect Time
Housel explains that uncertainty is a constant. We tell ourselves we’ll take action when things settle down, but they never really do. This hit me hard. I’d been pushing off projects for months, waiting for some mythical moment when I’d have more time, more energy, or more clarity.
And I wasn’t alone. I saw it in Lisa, a client who had spent years saying she’d start working out once things “weren’t so hectic.” She had a demanding job, two kids, and a never-ending list of obligations. There was always another reason to wait. Finally, after years of stop-and-start attempts, she committed to just two workouts a week. Not five. Not even three. Just two. And suddenly, something clicked. A year later, she wasn’t just working out—she was thriving. The “perfect time” had never arrived. She just stopped waiting for it.
Procrastination and the Cost of Inaction
One chapter in Same as Ever struck a nerve: people often underestimate the cost of doing nothing. We see the cost of action—the effort, the discipline—but we ignore the slow, creeping cost of inaction.
Mike, another client, was a perfect example. He’d spent months debating whether to start lifting weights. He worried about looking inexperienced, about getting injured, about not doing things “right.” But in the time he spent overthinking, his back pain got worse, his energy dipped, and he felt weaker than ever. When he finally committed, it only took a few weeks before he said, “I wish I had done this sooner.” The truth is, inaction is never neutral. It has consequences—just slower, more invisible ones.
The Cycle of Quick Fixes and False Starts
Housel tells stories of people chasing short-term gains, falling for bubbles and fads, and ultimately ending up worse than before. I couldn’t help but think about all the fitness trends that come and go—the crash diets, the extreme workouts, the miracle supplements.
Susan was a textbook case. She had tried everything—keto, juice cleanses, intermittent fasting. She’d lose weight quickly, feel great for a while, then crash and burn, only to start the cycle again. Eventually, she gave up the search for a magic bullet and focused on the boring fundamentals: eating balanced meals, lifting weights, getting enough sleep. It wasn’t flashy, but it worked. The quick-fix cycle had promised fast results, but it was the long, steady grind that actually delivered them.
The Power of Identity and Consistency
One of the most powerful lessons in Same as Ever is the importance of long-term thinking. Success isn’t about big, dramatic actions—it’s about consistency over time. And more than that, it’s about identity.
Dan, one of our longest-standing members, embodies this perfectly. He’s not the strongest guy in the gym. He doesn’t have the best genetics or the most time. But he shows up. Rain or shine, good day or bad, Dan trains three days a week, no excuses. At some point, working out stopped being something he had to force himself to do. It just became who he was. That identity shift—the moment you stop seeing yourself as someone who “tries to work out” and start seeing yourself as someone who just does—changes everything.
The world changes, but human behavior doesn’t. People will always procrastinate. They’ll always chase shortcuts. They’ll always underestimate the cost of doing nothing. But once you recognize those patterns, you can choose to break them.
Don’t wait for Monday. Don’t wait for the new year. Start today. Tackle that long-overdue project. Set a simple routine. Commit to consistency over perfection.
At Elevate Health & Performance, we bridge the gap between knowledge and action. If you’re ready to stop waiting and start building a system that actually works, we’re here to help. Let’s get started today.