04 January 2013

FEARLESS 2013


2011
What I want to happen:  I will fall in love.

What really happened: I did but I became the rebound girl. Got heart broken and hospitalized. Got a fear of love til the year ends.

2012
What I want to happen: My year of fun.

What really happened: Got so attached with the fun, free college life and had a hard time adjusting with the real world. Lowest self-esteem because of job hunt difficulty. Self-doubting and crisis because I wasn’t genuinely happy.

It seems like my year prediction happens the complete opposite way that I hope it does. My prediction has no scientific or astrological basis, rather all were just based from how I just want the upcoming year to be. And I guess, there’s nothing wrong with being so positive for the year ahead.

But a friend told me, which hit me real hard, that these are all because of personality issues. I know that I am the kind of person who likes to plan things always. There’s nothing wrong with planning anyway.  But as the old saying goes - too much of everything is not good.  And in my case, as I always plan for things, I become so stiff. Well, I am open with impromptu adventures, sudden changes, and uncontrollable conflicts, but I just don’t go with the 'flow'. I just don’t really want to go with the 'FLOW'. I don’t want to be that person who just stand and/or sit there and let the waves take me to where my 'fate' is. I want to have control with my decisions so I won’t regret anything. I always set my goals - goals for a year, 5 to 10 years! Yeah, that’s how advance I think. And that, my friends, is my problem..

I am not a people-pleaser nor a perfectionist. I am just afraid of making mistakes. Who doesn’t? I mean, why would you do something when you know is wrong from the start? I fear doing something bad because I believe in ‘karma’.  It’s not like I haven’t sinned in my life, but I always put pressure in myself to always be the best, when in fact, I just can’t be.. I really can’t be. So, with all the pressure from the responsibilities I voluntarily accepted in my student life, I thought it will all bring something good for me in the future. It did. Academic and leadership award, intangible honor, good resume, proud parents, etc. But that unexplainable ‘7th-high’ feeling from these fruits of hard work was short-lived.  

As I evaluate myself – I am not happy.

I am not experiencing any MMK-level-of-drama problem in my life those times, but I felt rock bottom. I was at my lowest the latter part of 2012. I smile and laugh each day but that thing called – GENIUNE happiness was missing. We have our own definition of things, and the way I define GENIUNE HAPPINESS is feeling before you sleep, even after a very exhausting day, you feel fulfilled on how your day’s work; and as you wake up, no matter how long your to-do’s are, you still feel excited for the stressful day. 

I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I keep asking myself..

What is missing? What do I need? What do I want? Is there something I need? Am I too greedy for not feeling contented? Is it my work? Do I just miss my college life? Should I go back to school and study again? Will a boy make me feel happy? How do I become happy again???

It’s getting  crazy every night. Yes, my job isn’t my dream first job and I still don’t feel efficient enough, but there are daily reminders, from people or things around, for me to be grateful of my job because I am in for huge opportunities. If this is because I haven’t had any boyfriend or been the unlucky one in love, well I don’t have that urgency to go out, mingle, find an inspiration and flirt. I love being single (for the now). Studying isn’t a choice for now because I need to rest my brain and my parents’ pocket for some time. I still need to figure out the career/industry I want to focus on because I don’t want to screw up my Masters, as how I 40% regret my bachelor’s degree. I try spoiling my self with material and edible things, but those weren’t enough and I even end up regretting the weight I gained.

STOP THINKING OF HOW TO BE HAPPY. JUST BE HAPPY.

How do you BE happy? – lame, annoying question. But after some lone time of thinking about this question, I think I have come up with a good realization. My friend is right, I just have to stop hurting myself with questions of how’s. It’s not that I stop being the I-always-plan-over-analyze-things version of me, but I just have to go and do the things I instantly think will make me happy. I have to learn to take some risks even though I haven’t figured out yet the consequences after. I have to take that leap of faith, enjoy the moment, and if the end is regretting, accept the consequences, don’t do it again and move forward. At least, I was happy, though temporarily, well at least I learned. As I realized, I am old enough to stand up for my own mistakes. I am not that kid anymore who should be afraid of getting scolded by my parents. I really need to step out of my comfort zone, explore the strange world and find things I might enjoy. The right term is TO LOOSEN UP!

The above are so easy to say. And the year has just started, so I am feeling every bit of excited again for my year. But this year I wont have any predictions, rather a ‘note to self’ kind of thing.

I really HOPE & pray that 2013 will be big bounce back year for me and to everyone. I got plans for 2013 but whatever happens or will not happen, I say – BRING IT!

Disclaimer: I am already OK by now. Still not genuinely happy, but I have already let go my worries.


2013 - What I want to happen: I WILL BE MORE FEARLESS.