Starting 2013 with a List of Challenges

Every January, it has been a tradition for most people to make New Year's Resolutions.


resolution (n) - a firmness of purpose or determination; something determined or decided

People make resolutions every start of the year and many end up discontinuing these resolutions by February. Exercising for example is one common resolution for most people. Chubby people, such as myself, would try to exercise vigorously during the first week of January, and then finally give up on it when the results are not that immediate. Another resolution, such as reading the Bible, would also be in one's list, but then after reading the book of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, etc., some people would get bored, and forget reading the rest of the year.

Resolutions are not just things that you want to do, but are also things that you want to quit. Some would like to quit smoking. At first, they would be successful, but in a moment of weakness, or perhaps, in a moment of heightened emotional state, one would succumb to the attraction of nicotine, and would be a worse smoker than before. Some people, would like to quit drinking coffee. Some, want to quit their current job. Only a few people become successful in quitting. Others, continue to do what is comfortable, too afraid to leave the comfort zone.

Resolutions are not just things that you want to do, or things that you want to quit. Resolutions are also things that you want to change about yourself. Every year, people would promise to be more patient, more loving, more generous, more understanding, more passionate, more responsible, and so on. People try to change outwardly, and try to exercise their self control. In January, most people seem to be kinder. Most people seem to always be in control of their feelings. However, in the following months, they are back to their usual self. This is a fact. Change is not something outward. It's something inward. It's very difficult to change into someone that you're not. Deep inside, we really do not want to change, because our personality is what makes us different from others. Subconsciously, we use the concept of individuality as an alibi for us to remain the same. In the end, we realize that we are the same kind of person like who we were last year.

So this year, I am not making resolutions, nor promises to myself. This year, I made a list of challenges instead. These challenges have equivalent rewards. The motivation of doing the things in my list, is having the sense of achievement, and the reward that comes after each task. Many people are motivated by rewards, so I am using this strategy instead.

For example, this year, I made a blog entitled: 365-Day Instagram Challenge 2013. This year, I challenged myself to take one photo a day. My reward at the end of the year is a new digital camera or a cellular phone with a better camera resolution.

I will treat 2013 as one big contest. Life itself is indeed a challenge. The fact is, if you succeed in any endeavor, there is a prize waiting for you. This year, I listed them down and I will treat them not as a resolve or as a promise to myself, but as challenges that I have to do in order to have that sense of self-fulfillment. If I lose the challenge, then I have no reward. At least I don't have to punish myself if I fail to accomplish the task.

There will be no more resolutions this year, only challenges. What I need now, is to focus on the prizes that await me and also the strength to follow through.