“Men desire novelty to such an extent that those who are doing well wish for a change as much as those who are doing badly.” ― Machiavelli, Niccolò

   I recently came across this post from an athlete I've followed closely for awhile. On the tail end of a very successful career, he currently puts out a lot of content regarding mindset and mental effort toward accomplishing your goals. The term "mindset" commonly gets perceived as motivated vs. lazy, fearless or timid etc. Both mindset and mental health are much like physical health. You can pursue increased body composition, increased VO2max, reduced bodyweight....the list is expansive depending on individual factors. Often times these areas of health overlap and similar principles can be applied.
   The above passage articulates the reality of goal pursuit and effort toward meaningful changes in life. A majority of success comes down to consistent action of few, basic principles. The desire for novelty, regardless of its impact on success, can override the necessary discipline. How many times have you claimed something did not work or was ineffective? Were you consistent? Did you stick to the plan? What impacted your decision to discontinue and ultimately deem it unsuccessful? Repeated choices in line with your values and goals are not always, and possibly very rarely, "pleasurable." When the urge or desire for novelty comes about consider looking to fulfill that urge in a different outlet. This will not only allow you to remain consistent but also add an element of balance to your life.