Habit and Willpower
In today’s world, many people in India are taking up the 21-day challenge to either adopt new habits or break old ones. The question arises: is this challenge truly effective? Last night, during a discussion with my friend Vaibhav, we debated its worthiness. Vaibhav firmly believes that the 21-day challenge is merely a facade. According to him, if someone genuinely desires to quit smoking, they should simply take action without the need for a structured time frame. He argues that this challenge often leads to a false sense of achievement, ultimately resulting in relapse once the 21 days are over. He questions the practicality of relying solely on willpower to overcome deeply ingrained habits like smoking.
On the other hand, I see value in the 21-day challenge, but not necessarily in terms of habit formation. Instead, I view it as an exercise in building willpower. Quitting smoking, for instance, is a daunting task due to intense cravings. The 21-day challenge provides a structured approach to gradually strengthen one’s resolve against these cravings. While the initial days may seem manageable, it’s around the midpoint when the real test of willpower occurs. By persevering through the challenge, individuals develop the necessary mental strength to resist the temptation to revert to old habits.
In these 21 days, a person may push themselves to finish the challenge and create belief in themselves that they can complete it. This process will be helpful in building self-esteem. In the beginning, when there is doubt about whether they can complete the challenge or not, whether they can create a habit and change their life or not, when they finish the 21-day challenge, they feel confident in themselves. Let’s take our example: if a person has tried to quit smoking and has already made multiple failed attempts, consciously or subconsciously, they start believing that they are addicted to cigarettes and they can’t get rid of it, eventually giving up on the idea of quitting smoking. However, if that person takes the initiative to not smoke for these 21 days by any means and finishes this challenge honestly, they consistently and subconsciously believe that they can quit smoking, gaining confidence and boosting self-esteem.
Finished challenge outcomes: as we understand, finishing a 21-day challenge will not only boost confidence but also make the person believe in themselves more. Its impact can be seen in all areas of life such as work, relationships, money, finance, etc., but the impact cannot be seen by finishing only one challenge. After finishing the challenge, one should look at other habits too, which they want to get rid of or want to adopt in their life. The challenge should be harder than the previous one. The person could see the impact in their life by providing good and disciplined habits and getting rid of negative habits so that they can control their mind, become more confident, and increase their willpower.
Completing the 21-day challenge not only boosts confidence but also plays a pivotal role in fortifying one’s willpower. Willpower represents an individual’s inner strength and determination to achieve goals or overcome challenges. This strengthened willpower transcends the confines of a single endeavor, permeating every facet of life. It empowers individuals to confront obstacles head-on, whether in their professional pursuits, personal relationships, or financial management. Moreover, as participants continue to take on new challenges, each more demanding than the last, they further cultivate their willpower, gradually gaining mastery over their impulses and habits. In essence, the 21-day challenge serves as a catalyst for developing the resilience and resolve necessary to navigate life’s myriad challenges with confidence and determination. Therefore, I believe that the 21-day habit challenge is not just about building a permanent habit in our life but the whole process is about building willpower and driving our life on our own terms, not letting habits and mind drive our life.