I am a creature of habit. Every morning I make my bed, brush my teeth, wash my face, eat a banana, and take a vitamin (in precisely that order). In the afternoons I always study in the same area on the Student Union's second floor. I prefer to use a specific elliptical each time I go to the gym, and my meals every day at the dining hall are nearly identical. My nightly ritual consists of taking a quick shower, drinking a cup of green tea, and preparing a to-do list for the upcoming day.
My everyday pattern acts as a framework that holds together what would otherwise be a hectic lifestyle. I find comfort in the predictability and sameness of my habits, and I feel as though functioning without them would be impossible. The irony of all this, though, is that I am beyond terrified of living a life without change.
My reliance on cycles is not the root of my fear; really, this has little to do with habits, routines, and rituals at all. What scares me is stagnancy. Settling for a life void of new experiences, the infinite search of adventure, and an ongoing pursuit of an improved self is my absolute worst fear. This fear could easily become a reality by making the achievement of significant goal my single purpose in life. Unknowingly, this is what many people do.
Too often a false correlation is formed between success and the achievement of a certain point in life. A person can unknowingly place limits on their potential by focusing on reaching a specific goal. Goals are important, but once achieved, their halting effects can inhibit one’s ability to grow. Happiness and success are not indefinitely promised after reaching a set goal, but frequently people become situated at a point of achievement and remain there for the entirety of their lives. No longer do they live; they simply exist.
Let me clarify that this is not a speech about the journey being greater than the destination. This is about fearing the very existence of a destination.
A destination of this sort restricts capability. Essentially, it is a finish line that signifies the conclusion of a race that should never end. Stagnancy is the refusal to continue striving for a better self. Worst of all, it is the waste of potential and the ultimate loss of possibility. Settling for the comforts of stagnancy is a nightmare that the world sells as a dream because, despite popular belief, success is not found by plateauing at a point of achievement, but by constantly working to be greater.
The goal of achieving a better self is continuous. Life should be lived so that each step is a stride forward and not a simple jump in place.
Treating life as a race with no end may seem pointless to some. However, I wholeheartedly believe that the only way to win this particular race is by refusing to ever cross the finish line.
