‘ Ugh, this one sucks ! No way am I uploading this one for sure ’, your inner voice retorts disgustedly as you skim through thousands of your random photos in search of that perfect one to beat the biggest challenge you face today.

The 10 year challenge is eagerly waiting for your juxtaposed before and after pictures to reveal the biggest secret — the natural process of ageing.

The 10 year challenge was intended to highlight ‘how we look’ and while many did a great job ageing through time showing no signs of grey, there were others who needed assistance in the form of various photo filters. Regardless, 10 years did catch on and while ageing is inevitable, the most important question was left unanswered.

The HOW DO YOU THINK 10 Year Challenge

You may have dropped 30 pounds and built yourself the leanest physique and you very well deserve a round of applause for all the hard work, but the real 10 year challenge isn’t about how you look, but about how you think.

How has your thinking changed in the past 10 years ?
Are you still holding on to preconceived notions from the past ?
Do you still judge people based on their political or religious views ?
Still hating the people you hated 10 years ago ?

You may be looking exactly the way you did 10 years ago, but if you’re thinking in the same manner, you have something to work on. I took this challenge very seriously for myself today and spent a couple hours wondering how my thinking has changed in the past 10 years.

‘ How do you even decide on a passing metric for this test ? ’, I thought to myself.

While the how-you-look challenge was easy to pass with a visual test, this test will require you to reflect on yourself to come to a conclusion.

So here’s a few questions I asked myself to determine whether I passed the #theREAL10YearChallenge

1.  Still Comparing ?

If you are still comparing yourself and your achievements with others around you and lowering your self-worth, it’s time you start focusing on where you are as opposed to where the world is.

2.  Still Debating Trivial Issues ?

If you still spend hours debating that foul judgement by the referee or get disturbed with someone else’s political views or simply spend your valuable time pondering over situations you have no control over, stop ! Unless you are directly involved with the issue you so deeply debate about and have no control over, stop wasting your time so frivolously — you don’t have an unlimited supply of it.

3.  Still Living in the Past ?

That missed opportunity, those failed relationships, that night out with drinks where you elaborate on all the things you wish you had done — yes, you’re living in the past. The world is moving fast, but more importantly it’s moving on. Move on from your past.

The future only listens to what you do today !

4.  Still Blaming Others ?

‘ If only my parents had let me follow my passion that time ’
‘ It would be a different story altogether had it not been for Mr. X ’

It’s been 10 years mate ! The whole planet was able to rotate more than three thousand times, yet you’re story is revolving around that one person or one incident that prevented you from changing your life. You really want another 10 years of that ?

5.  Still Waiting for a Magic Wand ?

You’ve already heard this a thousand times but here I go again

You Have The Control To Change Your Life

You want to change your life, but you wish for this change to magically present itself with confetti in stow. It’s not going to happen. Take charge, go out there and do what you have to, because nothing, I repeat, nothing will come easy

---

The real 10 year challenge is how your mind has evolved to think bigger and better for yourself, setting aside every notion that society defined for you.

Open your mind to newer possibilities, because each day is a new normal and the secret to winning this challenge is to be Free From Within !

I hope this post is received in the right spirit and I do not intend to belittle your efforts to look your best in the past 10 years. I would love to hear your thoughts and hope we can spread the word for #theREAL10YearChallenge

Carpe Diem !