Michael Varriano, Period 2, 1/3/23

Atomic Habits and Growth

The first thing I would do after I arrived home from the playground was my homework. It wasn’t that I was going to particularly enjoy the work, or that I was eager to learn fourth grade math. It was due to my despise of procrastination. Even at this young age I could not enjoy playing with my friends, reading a book, or taking personal time until my work had been completed. This is a theme I have tried to carry throughout my life. Just this November I walked into the college office amidst the chaos that is early college deadlines. “You look surprisingly calm”, Mrs. Devine remarked. I was only calm because my essays were written and my applications were submitted, long before the deadline. Throughout all my goals in life, I feel lack of procrastination is the best way to be resilient in achieving them.

I am currently working towards three major goals in my life. The first goal I am working towards is fitness. Regimented goals and routine is a threshold to greater routine and success in life. Everyday, I prioritize my workout in order to achieve my longer term goals. The goal I have set for myself is to increase my strength in all manners. However, the real challenge is consistency. Remaining consistent in exercising can be extremely difficult due to short term distractions. When setting long term goals, the product of my efforts is not noticeable on a daily basis. Going out with friends, playing video games, partying, and other activities seem much more rewarding in the short term. A significant part of my mental development during 2022 was acknowledging that this positive feeling does not lead to long term accomplishments or happiness. When I reflect on my figure from only a few months ago, my progression makes me extremely proud of my dedication and consistency. My goal is to strengthen my consistency in the future and reveal to myself the full capabilities of my body. I record my progress in two ways. The first way I record my progress is through the obvious, my physical fitness. My pictures from a year ago to now make me appear almost as two different people. The progression in the muscle groups I target the most makes me feel very proud and driven to continue. The second way that I record this progress is through my journal. Although this journal is actually about my daily activities and mindset it reflects my workout progress very well due to the way my mood improves while working out consistently.

The second goal I have set for myself is utilizing a high income skill to make money. Currently, I am employed as an intern at an accounting firm. Earning a little extra money every month is sufficient for saving and spending. However, it has taught me that I must set myself apart from others and learn a lucrative skill if I want to achieve my dreams and retire at a young age. The skill that I have been learning is trading markets. I spend hours a week studying the S&P 500 charts and price action. My primary goal in life right now is to create enough wealth trading the market to retire at a young age. This goal is driven by my fear of mediocrity and dread of working a 9-5 job my entire life. Currently, I study the market everyday in order to sharpen my skills. My goal is to retire by age twenty and never have to worry about money. This goal is so crucial to me because I want to enjoy a fulfilling life without monetary boundaries. I reflect on my progress by keeping a trading journal. I have learned that most of the trading stocks are psychology. In order to learn and grow I record every trade and my logic behind it. Although some mistakes are unavoidable I always take time to reflect on old mistakes as my skill and knowledge matures. I can see the progression of my skill by my understanding of specific trends and movements in the market. However, the most apparent proof of my progress is the money aspect. Over the course of the last two years of trading I have become more and more profitable. This progression gives me massive hope that I can achieve my dream and become financially independent within the next year or two.

My final major life goal is to become an outstanding father. I am blessed to have a dad who encourages me, guides me, and helps me along my way. I look forward to passing this onto my children someday. This is a difficult goal to prepare for as a seventeen year old. I believe that the best way I can prepare for this goal is to continue focusing on my moral values and making the world a better place for my future children. I will be an inspiring role model for my children some day but I must first develop strong values for myself. This is a goal that I will work towards my entire life, but it is the goal that is most important to me that I achieve. I assess myself on this goal by introspecting on my affect on the world. I focus on the small things such as helping someone with their groceries and making their day. I also work towards this goal through volunteering in my community. The most significant progress I have made towards my goal is my work with Oakwood Heights Community Church. I volunteer often by assisting at their events and food pantry. I also made a large difference by organizing a food drive for their pantry and collecting over 25 bags of food. I believe that it is acts of kindness such as this that make the world a better place for my children. In addition, kindness and empathy are values I want to impress upon my future children.

Procrastination is the moving force that leads most people away from their goals. As Charles Bauderlaire said, “In putting off what one has to do, one runs the risk of never being able to do it.” This applies to all of my goals and lifestyle in general. I have learned that all of my goals correlate. If I work hard towards one it is easier to work hard towards others. We live in a lazy society and as a result many people normalize passing up opportunities for aimlessly scrolling through media, partying, or other bad habits. All of my goals connect in the way that I will not let myself get distracted from them by the static that life throws at me. I can achieve anything I set my mind to.