Log #5

Better Than Before

－Gretchen Rubin

When thinking of the definition of success, we mostly associate that with fame, affluence, and being without any worry. Seldom would the answer be like fostering a good living habit, neither miss out any single appointment nor fail to manage the expenditures well. In fact, having good habit matters not only the way we live or the lifestyle we adopt but it also gradually changes who we are and who we will be like in the future. Though knowing the importance of cultivating the good habits, we still don’t figure out how. And this book, Better Than Before, is the very book that can definitely help us seek out the approaches and provides us with the concrete solutions. I really found it useful and crucial after reading it, by the way.

     In accordance to what the author mentioned, based on the criteria divided mainly into the inner part and the outer one, all mankind will be categorized into four tendencies: The Upholder, the Questioner, the Obliger, and the Rebel. Each tendency might slightly vary from one another; there’s no huge difference theoretically. We can generally call the Upholder a perfection-lover, who will always do things well to meet both their own or others’ expectations. And the Questioner will do things that meet their own expectations; that is, they will do only they think is right or worthy doing. However, the Obliger work otherwise than the Questioner, they will only do what others expect they to do. As for the Rebel, they are against both themselves or others; in other words, they will intentionally do what opposite to what they are supposed to do.

     I, hesitantly, might refer myself to the Questioner type. I always set a high goal for myself and would spend every effort endeavoring to chase after what I want. If my parents or my teachers force me to do something that I don’t consider worthy the time I spend on it, I will resist, not to mention what I will have done on that. As a result, because my mom knows me pretty well, she won’t interfere into any of my decision; instead, she would just let me do what I want and respect to all the decisions I made. It is the book that makes me know myself better and understand what kind of person I am; make me think over the questions that I didn’t thought of before as well.