The Theory of #MaibaNaman

Like rules and promises, some routines are meant to be broken.

When we reach a dead-end in life, we feel scared, hopeless, and uncertain. With these feelings comes the pressure to make a decision, with usually only two choices: Stick to what you’re comfortable with or do something new.

And when we feel we can’t do anything about a problem? We do the former.

Let’s face it: we all do things out of habit. And the thing is, routines are a state of the mind, not a state of the body.

I have a professor who challenged my class to do something new every day for three weeks. He named this activity #MaibaNaman. One thing I realized, thanks to the activity, is that if you’re feeling stuck and out of ideas, you’ve got to think outside the box. Sure, it doesn’t seem easy but that’s because moving out of one’s comfort zone is a step-by-step process. Here are some ways on how you can slowly break free from those habits!

Breaking habits start with simply trying out something you’ve never tried before. Ask yourself: is there anything that you don’t like? Some kind of food? Or a movie? Don’t be afraid to give those things a shot. On the first week of our activity, I tried California Maki even though I’m not a big fan of sushi. I’m also not a big fan of heavy dramas, but I tried watching Blue Valentine. And guess what? I found new things to love.

People say that it takes 21 days to make or break a habit, so try constantly looking for new things to do. Doing the things that you’re not used to won’t kill you – it might even help you gain insights and change your perspective on things. If you’re a shy person, you could do something as challenging as talking to a complete stranger. Keep in mind that there’s nothing wrong (or scary) with being a little friendly. With me, it was as simple as talking to someone from my org for the very first time.

If you’re more of an extrovert, you can always expand your social circle by finding new people to hang out with. My friends are members of a school organization and usually they go to the hangout place of this org. Normally, I wouldn’t go with them but thinking that it was something that was out of the ordinary for me, I went along. And it was one of the best decisions that I’ve ever made. I met new people, heard new stories, and learned new things from them.

If you’re a stingy person, like me, why not try treating other people to some free food for no reason? You’re probably shaking your head right now because of the idea, but fret not, because doing that will make you realize something. That week, I decided to give my mom her favorite pastry. Being selfless is rewarding, and going out of the way to buy something for someone is just one of the little things that you can do to make a person, and yourself, happy.  

To learn and live life to the fullest, we must not hesitate to try something new. Routines are good but they only limit us from experiencing what the world has to offer. A wise man once told me that being crazy and open to new experiences is the best way to get insights. The world is big and full of opportunities waiting for you. It’s never too late to escape from your habits.

All it takes is a new mindset – the curiosity and courage to try new things. Take it as a challenge.

Article by Zarah
Art by Sean
----

Zarah is an eighteen-year-old Advertising Management major who likes to compute numbers and write stories. You can find her at cafes reading a book or watching a movie/anime. Like Margo from Paper Towns, she adores mysteries so much that she is slowly becoming one. And when all is finally right in her world, she would like to become a successful scriptwriter.  

 

Sean is a 15-year-old muggle-born who is proud to say that he is perfectly abnormal, thank you very much. Peculiar in many ways, he is a far cry from that common stereotyped teenager.  He has a great passion for art, and would love to do nothing more than making collages and other creative thingamajigs.