Ashi Kamra '22
Over quarantine, you may have had the opportunity to create change within yourself. This summer, I started to reflect on who I am and decided to put more effort into who I would become. I finally began my health journey.
After 16 years on this earth, I started to really take care of my mind, body, and soul. Whether that be on the treadmill, in meditation, or on Netflix, I made a goal to create the state of being I would be most happy with. Having restraint, being consistent, and staying motivated was a major obstacle. But through the ups and downs, highs and extreme lows, I learned how to cultivate a healthy state of being.
Then came the challenge of preserving it.
A wave of anxiety overtook me when I realized that what I got myself into was supposed to last forever, meaning that I have to continue this backbreaking work. Forever. I was scared I couldn’t maintain the state of being I worked so hard on. I was scared everything would go to waste. All the hours I spent working towards one goal, gone.
You may worry about this too. So instead of allowing you to reinvent the wheel and go through the pain I did, I will advise you away from the path of fear and anxiety, to create pride and acceptance for yourself and the hard work you have done.
First off, try to develop a new routine. You may have accustomed yourself to something rigorous and extremely taxing to sustain for long periods of time as your life gets busier and busier. Now, with school in session, it’s time to step back. Take two to three of the most important bits of your existing routine, and create something more flexible and light. That way, you can still contribute to the goal you’ve created of changing yourself, but in more realistic, sustainable ways.
But, to truly maintain what you have now, my second piece of advice is what really matters, building a new identity for yourself. While this may seem daunting, all it takes repeating a few words every day.
James Clear, the author of Atomic Habits, puts it this way: “Your behaviors are usually a reflection of your identity. What you do is an indication of the type of person you believe that you are — either consciously or unconsciously.” He and I both believe that creating habits and routines for yourself can become easier and more desirable if you approach them with a mindset of becoming someone, whether that be a runner, a musician, an artist, or more. Even imagining yourself to revolve around a trait, such as confidence, dedication, or flexibility, can provide you with the much-needed motivation.
Healthy routines make sense, but if they conflict with your identity, there is no way they can sustain themselves in the long run. So, create an identity that is in line with your actions and beliefs. If your routine consists of exercising every other day, call yourself an athlete. If it consists of making breakfast every single morning, call yourself consistent. Because as Clear said, “Every action you take is a vote for the type of person you wish to become… This is one reason why meaningful change does not require radical change.”
The last piece of advice, to all the runners, artists, mathematicians, writers, fashionistas and more, is to have patience and be kind to yourself.
I know all too well the spiral you can go down when you realize that you haven’t lived up to your unreachable expectations. Your accomplishments, and even yourself, may seem worthless. But please, take a breath, close your eyes, and give yourself a hug. Ask yourself, if you were to console a close friend or loved one who was in the same thought process, what would you say?
Gently remind yourself that you are not the same person, and you never will be. What you have done since you began your journey has changed you, for the better. You have your whole life ahead of you to continue, so don’t stop now because of a small misstep. Remind yourself of the power you hold as a living being. You are a miracle. All 13.8 billion years of the universe have led up to you. The infinite possibilities of life have fallen into place to create you. So, cherish that. Cherish who you are and honor it with who you become.
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