Consistency Equals Truth


[The following was copied and pasted from GPT-4 after I fed it a transcript of a 3 minute ramble I had recorded while walking just now and asked it to turn it into a 500 word blog in the style of Morgan Housel]


Title: Decoding Quality: The Consistency-Truth Paradox


To comprehend the essence of quality, a profound understanding of what constitutes 'truth' and 'equality' is required. Unraveling this relationship, I'm compelled to believe that one of the most compelling analogies to bring into play here is that 'consistency equals truth.' 

Visualize a simple pencil. You hold it up and let it go; gravity immediately pulls it down. This universal force is a truth, consistently proven by its unyielding manifestation, no matter the number of times the pencil is dropped. Instances that appear to defy this consistency - wind tunnels, zero-gravity flights, or spacewalks - can momentarily shake our belief system. Yet, these instances seem surreal precisely because they contradict our inherent understanding that consistency equals truth.

The same principle applies to emotions and human relationships. If you harbor genuine love for your partner, it manifests consistently. It endures through trials and triumphs, a daily testament of your feelings. An inconsistent demonstration of love often signals a lack of genuineness, offering a tangible realization that inconsistency is the inverse of consistency, just as untruths are the inverse of truth. 

The intriguing mathematics of it all dictate that if something is equal, its opposites must also be equal. Thus, if consistency equals truth, it follows that inconsistency must equate to untruths or lies.

This idea can offer invaluable insights within the professional domain. I recall a valuable lesson from a previous boss on this matter. Inconsistent performance can be far more disruptive than consistently poor performance. It's not necessarily the lack of ability that irks employers but the inconsistency, the unexpected variations in outcomes. 

It isn't the magnitude of the lie that generates reactions; it's the shattered consistency, the sudden dissonance in the harmony of belief and truth. An inconsistency, a deviation from the expected, is perceived as a lie, sparking a profound sense of betrayal. 

This extends to personal ambitions as well. If you're genuinely curious about the world, your pursuit of knowledge will remain steadfast. If you passionately aspire to be a doctor, you'll weather the storm of rigorous training and demanding qualifications. In short, if something rings true for you, your dedication towards it will endure, underscoring that consistency is a testament of truth.

It is hence crucial to recognize that consistency and truth are intertwined. If something matters to you genuinely, it will reflect in your actions persistently. If a belief, a value, or an aspiration holds true for you, your pursuit will echo that truth with unerring consistency. 

On the flip side, when inconsistencies mar this pursuit, they tend to signal a departure from the truth, leading to potential deceptions or lies. So, let the constancy of your actions, your persistent pursuit of what matters to you, be the barometer of your truth. 

Consistency is not merely a measure of dedication or persistence. It's a powerful compass guiding us towards our truths, helping us weave our narratives in the tapestry of life.