Do you ever find it hard to get going? Want to start a project or change role or get fitter but find you keep putting it off?
You are not alone.
The definition of ‘Inertia’ can help us understand what is going on here .. .according to New Scientist, “Inertia is the resistance of objects to a change in their state of motion”. Now I appreciate this probably wasn’t written with human beings in mind but doesn’t it feel just like that on some days? Our brain is telling us we want to do something and yet there is an inertia – something holding us back.
I got thinking about this on my walk yesterday.
The photo heading up this blog is of a beautiful, large rock in a children’s play area near me. It has carved words of poetry around it and it is suspended with a pole through its middle so that it can be turned.
I stopped, pushed heavily against the rock, and slowly, very slowly, it began to turn. I kept pushing and it gradually increased in speed. I then let go, and it continued to spin for quite some time until it came to a peaceful standstill.
What did I take from this?
- Sometimes, to get moving at all, even a little bit, can take a substantial amount of effort and we need to be aware of this, prepare ourselves for that effort, and be prepared to need to focus on it for a small, but sustained, time
- Once we have got moving, it doesn’t take so much effort to keep moving .. but it still takes effort .. we can ease off just a little but we still need to be consistent in applying some effort
- Ultimately, once ‘in the swing of things’ we can give ourselves a bit of a break for recharge, reflection, and to enjoy the fruits of our efforts
- But – we can’t stop altogether if we want to see some sort of momentum continue or what we’ve achieved may not be sustained and our forward movement will slow, and slow, until it stop
- If we give a boost of energy to rebuilding momentum before forward movement has stopped altogether, it is possible to pick up speed again
- If we wait until there is no movement, we have to go back to step 1 and it takes a great deal more effort to keep things going
So as I reflect on this, it seems to me that this is a useful way to remind ourselves of what is needed – not just to get started but to keep things going.
And for those of us that feel it is just too much effort, what if you knew that yes, you need to give it some real focus and effort to start but that it becomes easier?
These reflection questions can also help:
- How am I going to feel 2 months from now if I don’t do it?
- How am I going to feel 2 months from now if I do do it?
- What am I assuming that is stopping me from moving forwards?
- What could I credibly assume instead that will help me to move forwards?
So what is the equivalent of my rock in your life right now?
Are you ready to steel yourself to put some effort into getting the rock moving slowly? It will likely be worth it if you do.
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