Prisoners of habits.

We often refer to the means-end theory when we talk about consumption. The consumption is akin to achievement of goals. The ends are the goals that we set for us and the means are the ways of achieving those goals. The consumption choices we make are used as means to develop a social construct which helps us in projecting the desired images. The images here represent the goals. Similarly all our decisions are driven by the goals or the desired states. The goals can further be divided into long term goals and short term goals, with the long term goals being less prone to change vis-à-vis short term goals. If I look at my own life, then the goal has always been to become successful at whatever I do, so as to be able to live my life in a manner that takes care of a healthy lifestyle. The short term goal is to finish MBA successfully, get a good job etc. Getting a good job has become difficult with the economy hitting reverse gear. The falling economy has forced us to revaluate our assumptions and question our choices. Though it has not changed the long term goal but has definitely resulted in doubts sprouting up about the short term goals. With the changing goals, the means also demand that they be modified. The means or the mindset with which we came into this MBA is no longer applicable to present state. For example- quality rather than quantity has become the determining factor for recruiters while recruiting. This obviously calls for an enhanced emphasis on quality from us. It becomes imperative that we actually spend more time studying than we were doing earlier. However, the realisation has not resulted in much action from us. This is mainly due to two reasons. Firstly, I do not know what kind of goals would fit the situation and secondly, the means are difficult to change because I have become a prisoner of my habits. Habits which are formed over time are stopping from moving me towards renewing transformational. My adaptive orientation towards this change is the one of reactive, which is characterised by lethargy to act proactively. I tell myself that whenever and whatever the time brings, I will decide my response then and there only. However, the changed environment demands that we envision all the possible outcomes and keep ourselves prepared with appropriate responses. To be ignorant of the changing environment is one thing, but to know that the environment has changed and still not respond is another, which is also self defeating. I hope writing it down and expressing my anguish, directed at my self will shake me out to move out of my comfort zone.