If You Struggle to Stay Consistent, You Might Just Need People

I don’t remember much from Chemistry class, but for some reason, the lesson on catalysts stuck with me.

In various cases, in order for certain ingredients to have a chemical reaction, there must be a third ingredient added, C, that takes A and B over a certain threshold.

A classic example of a catalyst is the yeast enzymes that help turn flour into bread.

I’m a big fan of that. And bread.

Since chemistry class, I have liked the idea and function of catalysts. In our daily vernacular, we sometimes label moments, or even people, as being catalytic.

Catalysts are movers and shakers.

The biggest C in my life has been Community — the added ingredient that makes things go.

Because, to be honest, on my own, I am often unmotivated and lazy.

I noticed that past generations (Gen X and Boomers) struggle to slow down and smell the flowers, take breaks, and not find all their worth in what they do.

I don’t have a problem with that.

My problem, along with lots of people my age, is the opposite —

Stagnation, apathy, lethargy.

The book The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt goes into depth on why this constant attention-grabbing, dopamine-inducing tech has changed us all.

It’s a worthy read, as it gives a lot of answers to this shared experience in my generation.

For many in my circle, this is our problem:

A (our energy, attention, motivation)
making a chemical reaction with

B (our dreams/desires of hard work, meaningful life-giving activities, healthy lifestyle)

We are in need of a catalyst.

What’s Your Togetherness?
Although there are many potential catalysts out there, my money is on Community.

Togetherness.

What kind? That might be secondary.

Community doesn’t require a certain amount of people, and it’s more likely dealing with the quality of connection. But however you define community, I think we can agree that it’s the opposite of isolation.

Community can gravitate around shared interests and chemistry, for sure.

But I’ve seen too many times, that if people are shoved into situations together — have to work together, suffer together, be generous together — even the biggest of differences/personalities don’t matter as much as we assume.

Whatever your version of community looks like…

I am observing that, moving forward into this tech/ai filled world, that is where people are finding substance in life. Beyond what meaning/satisfaction their work gives them, beyond what reels or shows they’re watching.

As hard as it is, as messy as it is,

Connection is what we’re made for.

We wither without connection.

We need each other.

You need others, and, whether you believe it or not, they need you, too.

The Together Catalyst
Think about crossfit, running clubs, or even a 12-step addiction recovery program…they all have community as the catalyst, to help them all meet real needs.

I’m not saying that people are the means to an end for you to accomplish your goals. Think of it more as a collective idea: we just don’t grow much in isolation.

How many stories have you heard that went something like this:

“I joined _____ because of a problem I was trying to solve, but I ended up with an even greater treasure, the people I befriended.”

I think that’s just how it goes.

If you struggle to accomplish hard-but-healthy things, consider ways to join others, or invite others to do it with you.

If you know where those communities are, give them a go.

If you can’t find them, perhaps it will begin with you inviting someone else to join you first.

My favorite experience of community-as-catalyst began with my utter incompetence with early morning routine.

I don’t sleep past my alarm anymore, since I do my routine with about 10-20 people. Lol.

Some questions to finish with:
What have I struggled to be consistent with, that I sincerely want to develop the habit for?


Have I heard that same problem from others?


How could I gather others around this topic/habit?


Where have I observed healthy, life-giving community?


What intimidates me about joining others?


What intimidates me about inviting others?