In the modern times up until now, it has been increasingly apparent on how people relentlessly strive for success, material wealth, and status. The problem with the modern rat race is how exhaustive it would be to meet one's financial needs and requirements. This means that it would require the 3 important resources — time, money, or even wealth — to feel and look successful.

The Modern Rat Race

"We buy things we don't need with money we don't have to impress people we don't like—and that is the foundation of the rat race."

Before, people mostly buy their needs, however, it is in consideration that it was the time of scarcity. However, when the economy boomed and the advancement of technology accelerated, the consumerist culture began to prosper, leading to people buying products and service beside their needs.The rise of advertisements, especially evident today with personalized social media ads and influencers promoting these products and services leading them in buying products. This creates a problem of spending beyond their means, given that we are facing higher costs of living to even meet this lifestyle.

The Rising Consumerism and Lavishness

"We live in a world where everything is expected to be immediate, but the things that matter the most take time to build."

It was reported by Northeastern Global News (2024) on how our attention has been severely affected for the past couple decades, from 2 minutes and 30 seconds, to roughly 45 seconds. This shows how our mind could be easily distracted due to the emergence of short-form entertainment such as reels from social media. The convenience of the modern world has led to our tendency to go with instant gratification. Although civilizations have advanced, we tend to rely with our primitive instincts to focus on short-term gratification than those long-term but fulfilling achievements.

Shortened Attention Span and Instant Gratification

"It must be remembered that the purpose of education is not to fill the minds of students with facts... it is to teach them to think."

There are different learning problems that is currently impacting younger generations. First is how there are some students who limit their learning potential to academics. Although learning academics help in the overall societal development, the problem arises when rote memorization is employed rather than higher-order thinking, which is important for learning other skills. This in turn, becomes more unsustainable for both the individual and society.

Learning Problems in the 21st Century

"A problem well-stated is a problem half-solved"

Every time before we decide or act, we clearly identify our problems or goals. Why? Identifying your problems changes the captain of your life from the external environment — friends, family, genetics, luck — to your own. This means that through awareness, you become the captain of our destiny and through that, you could choose whether or not you remain the same, or change your course of action — from only surviving to living with a purpose in life.

Be aware of these problems

"I’m going to do what I want to do. I’m going to be who I really am. I’m going to figure out what that is."

Often, social media as well as societal norms dictate what is considered successful or a failure. They may argue that achieving high grades, extreme popularity, abundant wealth, or high career ladder should be a sign of success. This is further exacerbated by criticisms and pressures from being a contrarian.However, one thing's for sure, YOU are the captain of your life and YOU could dictate to yourself what is considered successful to you. Try, Reflect, Adjust! Identify the "Whys" of your life and your core values. Rather live your life than follow everyone and die full of regrets.

Identify what you really want in life

"If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail."

Planning is an essential part for providing a framework and guide in setting your goals. However, you shouldn't just write broad plans such as "I will study tomorrow", rather specify the plan and divide it into microchunks so that it will make you think that it's easy to accomplish it, thus making it more sustainable. Yes it may look quite foolish, but the goal here is you're trying to set a habit, not to create a friction that discourages you from doing it. Plus, whenever you finish the goal, it gives you a sense of accomplishment.

Plan Simple!

"Action is the foundational key to all success."

However perfectly refined your plans may be, it doesn't compare to acting now. Yes, we may be tempted to plan perfectly because of our tendency to fear failure or someone might be watching us. But don't worry, you are the primary captain of your destiny, and no one knows you better more than yourself."Fortune favours the bold" is relevant in this scenario because of how many people achieved their dreams by being themselves and take bold risks despite the danger they may face ahead.If you might not know when to act, plan the fundamentals before acting and building up more advanced skills.

Act Now!

This is the phase where you continuously learn from the mistakes while applying your habits. That is why I've mentioned earlier that you couldn't plan perfectly as you are bound to experience unforeseen circumstances and mistakes. This is where you consistently improve your skills and refine your plans in accordance to your short-term and long-term goals. If you wanted to achieve the life that you aspire, learn as if you're a beginner, curious of everything, and commit to lifelong learning. All of these will help you not only survive but also thrive in the century filled with distractions.

Lifelong learning throughout your journey

"Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever."

This post explores and critiques the inclination of the contemporary world towards a dangerous path — the rat race — by which people competitively struggle and work hard to achieve "success" in the expense of their time, money, and health. Often, this path also pushes people to have no time for them to improve beyond their professional lives, leading to a moment of unfulfillment. Furthermore, the society's overhyped trends, Fear of Missing Out (FOMO), and the tendency to follow the crowd tends to lead to a false sense of identity.  

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Motivation & Inspiration

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Habits

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Learning & Education

How to Survive from the Problems in the 21st Century: Rat Race, Consumerism, and the Likes

I think 2024 was one of the toughest years for some people, including me, possibly you too. Some might be struggling from financial problems, others might have lost their loved ones and might experience loneliness and depression, and other people might achieve failure or setback either from school or at work.If you experience some, if not, all of this, I truly sympathize with you and I will be all ears. I also experience some of this too, and look at all of us, we have survived yet another year. We hope that this year would be a better one for all of us.

Reflection in the Year 2024

To be honest, 2024 really is a pain in a back for me. I have experienced working too hard on myself, neglecting my health of some sorts, lacked sleep all the time, and always experienced loneliness of some sorts. I just couldn't believe that I had survived the previous year with those habits that I laugh it all of.However, 2024 isn't only that way for me, I have learned many lessons that I wish I should have learned way sooner.

My Journey in the Year 2024

<ol><li class="ql-align-justify">Don't be too hard on myself.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">It's okay to have time to rest.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Love myself as I would to others.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Small, consistent actions make a difference in life.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Be accountable with my actions.</li></ol>

Lessons I have learned in 2024

You are allowed to be both a masterpiece and a work in progress, simultaneously.

I was a perfectionist person. Whenever I see a mistake or a problem on my tasks, I would restart it all over (quite literally). To be honest, I could take into account of my being competitive ever since I was a kid. However, as time goes on, I began to embrace imperfections and thought, I might have been way too hard on myself.

1. Don't be too hard on myself.

"You can't pour from an empty cup. Take care of yourself first."

I always remember that throughout my journey in 2024, I've put way too much energy on working and working that my family and friends were worrying about me all the time. At that time, I was juggling multiple responsibilities to be honest.As time progresses, I felt my body feeling fainter and getting more fatigued. Whenever I try to take a nap, my body says no because my body was used in working hours and hours. Once I got a well-deserved break in December, I felt more revitalized and wished that I should have done it way earlier.

2. It's okay to have time to rest.

“We’ve become conditioned to compromise and shrink ourselves in order to be liked. The problem is, when you work so hard to get everyone to like you, you very often end up not liking yourself so much.”

To be honest, when I reflected my 2024 journey, I exerted way too much effort to others, but not towards myself. I focused on what other people need and desire in exchange of my needs being compromised. Eventually, I then realized that I was becoming a people-pleaser, and hoped that I would change this year with better boundaries.

3. Love myself as I would to others.

"The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step."

Before, I struggled on maintaining my habits because I was way too busy that year. I have always underestimated the power of small actions because I excuse myself of having not enough time and energy to do these simple tasks. When I had a time to read Atomic Habits in my long break, I learned how powerful it was. When I applied it on forming my habits, even if it might take 5 minutes or less daily. When I look back on my progress now, I felt proud of myself for taking a small but consistent step.

4. Small, consistent actions make a difference in life.

"The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be."

Yes, this might be way too harsh, but I am accountable for everything that happened, happens, or will happen to my life. In fact, previous studies support that majority of actions or response will determine how life will be, while the rest is on external influences such as the environment.Before, I always wondered about the lives of successful people and envied them because of how they were able to live the life that they would want because they were born rich and privileged. Eventually, I realized that I could determine the destiny of my life, and equipped with hard work.

5. Be accountable with my actions.

<ol><li>Don't be too hard on yourself - Sometimes, mistakes happen as a way to improve yourself.</li><li>It's okay to have time to rest - Like bread, sometimes we need rest to rise again amidst challenges that we might face in life.</li><li>Love yourself as you would to others - On the end of the day, you will only have yourself who could truly understand who you are and accept what you truly feel.</li><li>Small, consistent actions make a difference in life - Small things accumulate.</li><li>Be accountable with your actions - Changing the steering wheel from the external environment to your own helps you change your destiny.</li></ol>

Lessons Learned

2024 has ended. Although 2024 has closed, another opportunity awaits for 2025: to bounce back, to improve, and to stand strong amidst the uncertainties this year will offer. Although it will be another tough year, we are now equipped to fight and fight with all of our hearts in this journey to achieve what we are destined to be from our blood, sweat, and tears. It's up to you on how you will apply this article, but the advice that I could offer to you is "Be your personal best."

Wrapping Up

In this Deepstash post, I will share the lessons that I have learned from the start until the end of 2024. Although I view 2024 as one of my toughest years, it also became my age of renewal and enlightenment. Although this article is focused on my journey, I hope that some of the experiences and lessons that I have learned could resonate with you too, reader.

Farewell 2024!

Without commitment, you'll never start. But more importantly, without consistency, you'll never finish.

Consistency is one of the powerful elements for success. Often, our success is not achieved overnight, it is through our persistence in small habits that makes our goals and dreams possible.Although goals or ambition is the path or direction towards success, consistency is the main vehicle that will help us in reaching our paths towards success.

The Power of Consistency

Although consistency is the main driver towards success, we have the tendency to be inconsistent with our actions. Days after making progress, we may doubt our ability, we may not show up, or we may stop proceeding with our goals because we couldn't see the tangible results of our hard work and persistence. That's why only few people were able to succeed in achieving their goals.Despite that, remember that all great things take time, so you have to consistently exert some effort and do it for time and time again no matter what you feel and no matter what your attitude is right now.

Dilemma with Consistency

“We must all suffer from one of two pains: the pain of discipline or the pain of regret. The difference is discipline weighs ounces while regret weighs tons.”

<ol><li class="ql-align-justify">Pain Today, Pride Tomorrow</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Remember Why You Started</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Motivation Does Not Last So You Must Be Consistent</li><li class="ql-align-justify">One Day At A Time</li><li class="ql-align-justify">2 Minutes Every Day</li></ol>

5 Reasons Why You Must Be Consistent to Achieve Your Goals and Dreams

“Hardships often prepare ordinary people for an extraordinary destiny.”

Most people quit or become inconsistent with their goals because of pain. They may expect that being stronger means not feeling anything, rather, it is embracing it as part of becoming a better person.Think of it this way, caterpillars endure hardship from being vulnerable as a prey, from having to undergo constant change and transformation, to becoming a beautiful butterfly is what makes the pain worth it.

1. Pain Today,  Pride Tomorrow (Part 1)

The fact of the matter is that pain is temporary, yet all of the efforts that you have exerted, the hardships that you have endured, and the perseverance that you have shown results to something that makes you say "I built this, I sacrificed for this, I worked for this, and I'm proud of this."

1. Pain Today, Pride Tomorrow (Part 2)

"Purpose is the reason you journey. Passion is the fire that lights the way."

Often, we quit because we didn't get our desired result or our hard work and persistence resulted in nothing. Remember the reason why you started this journey, maybe it's because of support from your friends or family, or it is your passion or dream. Make their support your fuel towards achieving your goals and be persistent no matter what you are facing or what you feel.

2. Remember Why You Started

"Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going."

Motivation is a short burst of excitement and determination towards a certain activity. Similarly to a burning match stick, motivation fades way too easily. People who based their accomplishment of goals on motivation are more likely to quit than people who based it on consistency. That's why try to be more consistent by doing at least a few minutes of your goals daily.

3. Motivation Does Not Last So You Must Be Consistent

"Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out."

Success is not achieved overnight, rather, it is the repetition of small habits or routines daily. These routines do not have to be too large, as long as you're consistent with your goals, you'll slowly but surely achieve your ambitions and dreams in life.

4. One Day At A Time

"If you can’t do a great thing, do a small thing in a great way."

Often, we are tempted to take huge steps or leaps daily because of our tendency to do and complete things immediately. Thinking with this perspective will make you more vulnerable to stress and burnouts. Rather, you could do daily 2-minute habits or small steps every day. Consistency is the key here.

5. 2 Minutes Every Day

Consistency is one of the greatest drivers towards success. It allows people to reach their utmost potential and others to achieve what seems to be impossible. Achieving success doesn't mean to take very huge steps, rather it is through the accumulation of our consistent small steps. Although we may doubt our abilities at first, take note that pain is only temporary."Success is what we all truly want to achieve, but are you ready to sacrifice for it?"

Conclusion

Consistency is one of the greatest drivers towards our success in life. However, some people still suffer inconsistency or easily give up on their road to success. This video explains why consistency is the key to success.

The Power Of Silence
Don't Underestimate the Power of Silence - Harvard Business.
5 Lessons on power of consistency.


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My name is Titan Mandal, 
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The Power Of Consistency | 5 Reasons Why Consistent People Are Successful By Titan Man

"Self-discipline is the ability to make yourself do what you should do, when you should do it, whether you feel like it or not."

Struthless defined discipline as "doing things that I said I was gonna do despite resistance." Although temptations and discouragements from the external environment or even from yourself, you're still executing your goals, even though it might be tempting or challenging not to do so.

What is discipline?

<ol><li class="ql-align-justify">Reframe discipline as a function of self-love.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Make discipline part of your identity.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Reflect this identity in your environment.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Internalize the threat of not doing this.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Have a good system to start things.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Have a good method to sustain things.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">At some point, the only true path is to just do it (discomfort training).</li></ol>

Steps on building self-discipline:

"Self-discipline is self-love. If you want to be happy, you have to love yourself, which means you have to discipline your behavior."

Even though we may practice self-discipline, it would be often short-lived especially for people who think being disciplined is being an obedient robot. To efficiently build self-discipline, as Struthless puts it, one should reframe his/her mindset that discipline, instead of being a form of obedience, should be a form of self-love.Example:Instead of: I should start studying because I don't want to fail. (Sounds like a punishment and looks very enforcing)Do this: I wanted to be achieve my dreams and I wanted to become ... therefore I'll start studying now. (Looks more positive and encouraging)

1. Reframe discipline as a function of self-love.

"The fact is, discipline is only punishment when imposed on you by someone else. When you discipline yourself, it's not punishment but empowerment."

An act of self-love eventually results to discipline. An act of discipline will result to self-love and self-respect, and as you may have observe it, is an endless spiral. "By acting like somebody you respect, you naturally respect yourself."

Self-discipline based on self-love

"You have to be willing to go to war with yourself and create a whole new identity."﻿

Often, we align our actions towards our identity right now, which makes it difficult for new habits to form, rather make these ideas part of your identity. Behavioral change based on identity is the most effective method in forming these habits. Create a new identity that would align with your goals and think of having this identity as inevitable.Example:Instead of: I will start exercising today (Introduces a new habit that is not aligned with your identity, making it harder for you to stick with the habit).Do this: I am an athlete, therefore I will exercise today (Aligns with your goals).

2. Make discipline part of your identity.

Here are some of the guide questions to consider on identifying your ideal (disciplined) self:<ul><li class="ql-align-justify">What does their day look like?</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Where do they live?</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Where do they eat?</li><li class="ql-align-justify">What do they wear?</li><li class="ql-align-justify">What does their week look like?</li><li class="ql-align-justify">What do they do for work?</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Who are they surrounded by?</li><li class="ql-align-justify">What do they think and feel?</li><li class="ql-align-justify">What do they say yes or no to?</li></ul>

How to paint a very clear picture of your disciplined self?

"Becoming the best version of yourself requires you to continuously edit your beliefs, and to upgrade and expand your identity."

Our environment plays a big role as "cues" in developing our habits and actions as it helps us remind in doing things associated with the environment. For example, your environment filled with books and reviewers may encourage you to study. While noisy or distracting environment paired with dim lighting would discourage you to do productive tasks.This, however, could be put into your advantage by changing your current physical environment into something your disciplined you would look like.Example:To prepare for workout tomorrow, I prepare my equipments to encourage me to exercise.

3. Reflect this identity in your environment.

"Environment is the invisible hand that shapes human behavior."

Loss aversion is more effective in gaining self-discipline than gaining something. This is because those things that we lose if we didn't do something are parts of us, and not doing so will provoke one's sense of threat. That is why we have the tendency to do what it takes to prevent ourselves from losing something.We could use our loss-averse human nature to develop habits that if not done, would lead to a loss or a small punishment.Example:If I didn't study for 3 hours today, I will give my friend $10.

4. Internalize the threat of not doing this.

"The fear of loss is greater than the desire for gain."

Starting habits is often seen as the difficult part of habit formation. In order to form habits, you could either create a better system for forming habits or eliminating frictions that prevents you from forming your habit.

5. Have a good system to start things.

"The secret to getting ahead is getting started"

<ol><li class="ql-align-justify">Try starting the habit for at least 5-10 minutes. Although short, as long as you're consistent in doing these habits, you'll more likely to stick with these habits. You could adjust it to longer periods once you got used to it.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Integrate the new habit to similar, existing habits for it to easily stick. You could start working out while watching your favorite videos.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Make the process enjoyable by rewarding yourself. This helps in prevent yourself from burning out while achieving your goals.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Create a cue related to the habit. E.g., you want to study tomorrow, prepare your reviewers today.</li></ol>

Some of my tips for habit formation (additional)

"Success is the product of daily habits, not once-in-a-lifetime transformations."

Although starting habits play a good role in habit formation, maintaining habits are good in the long term. In this phase, the key is consistency, not perfection. It is better to find sustainable routines aligned with your schedule and time to avoid yourself being burnt out.

6. Have a good method to sustain things.

<ol><li class="ql-align-justify">Focus on identity, not the outcome. Instead of saying "I want to win.", say "I am a winner!", this will help you motivate in maintaining your habits.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Celebrate small wins. Although these wins may look very small, but once you constantly progress and go on with your journey, you'll most likely achieve success in maintaining your habits.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Focus on consistency, not on perfection.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Don't be too hard on yourself. Although it is quite tempting to focus all-day long to a habit assuming that this would drastically improve from it, note that you'll immediately burn out from it. </li></ol>

Some of my tips for maintaining habits (additional)

"Small daily improvements over time lead to stunning results."

For you to form self-discipline in forming habits, you'll just have to do it. Try doing discomfort training where you have to start doing uncomfortable things until you get used to it.

7. At some point, the only true path is to just do it.

At the end of the day, what to do on all of this info about self-discipline depends on your hands. All it takes for you to achieve self-discipline and success is to act not tomorrow, not later, but ACT NOW! Every day, you'll have to endure hardships either way, from inaction in your goals or persevering hard for your dreams. Take note, the pain of discipline is lesser than the pain of regret.One day, all of your blood, sweat, and tears will be worth it and your past and future you will be proud for acting now. They will be waiting for you!

Campbell Walker, also known as struthless, tells his transformation story on how he was able to recover himself from the time of his weakest — lazy, self-absorbed, and did a lot of drugs — to someone with emotional growth on a place with self-respect. Some of you might be asking what made him change, and it's just one word, self-discipline. Although a simple of a word, it is instead harder to cultivate. In this video, struthless will explore the steps behind developing self-discipline especially in this increasingly busy society.

How to build discipline from first principles, starting with your mindset and working outwards.

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Thanks for watching :)

How to Survive from the Problems in the 21st Century: Rat Race, Consumerism, and the Likes

Farewell 2024!

The Power Of Consistency | 5 Reasons Why Consistent People Are Successful By Titan Man

How to Build Self-Discipline: The Mindset Method

Jay DR