From Inertia to Momentum

Way back in junior high school science classes I learned about the principle of inertia—a property of matter by which it continues in its existing state of rest or uniform motion. As a simple noun, apart from physics studies, inertia is a tendency to do nothing or to remain unchanged.

I suppose inertia is good if our current state is exactly what we want it to be. However, for most of us, we are inert in areas where we should be making forward progress.

In contrast to inertia is momentum. In physics momentum is the quantity of motion of a moving body, measured as a product of its mass and velocity. Practically speaking, momentum is strength or forced gained by motion. To break inertia, we must get moving. And since getting moving is the hardest part, here are a few key questions to consider.

• What is your why? Why is it absolutely imperative that you begin moving in a new and better direction? What glories and delights await you in your desired destination?
• What is your path? What steps will bring about the quickest traction and new gains?
• What are your friction points? What will inevitably arise to impede your progress and keep you stuck in inertia? Preparing for these friction points in advance will help you counter them.
• Who needs to know? Who will support and encourage you in your new life path?

It is easier to stay stuck than to start moving in a new direction, yet once we take the initial steps it gets easier.

• It is easier to live a robust spiritual life of prayer, study, and service than to get started.
• It is easier to maintain holiness and purity than to live the first day of your new commitment.
• It is easier to maintain health and fitness than to start a new regimen.
• As we learned in science class, it is easier to keep an object moving than to get it moving in the beginning.

Once we capture some momentum wonderful things start happening. We enjoy our progress and get inspired to experience even more. Our brains get rewired, and we develop new neural pathways that lead us toward our goals instead of away from them. And perhaps most importantly, we regain a sense of integrity, the knowledge that we are actually following through with our personal hopes and vows.

Gandhi described this inner sense of integrity as an “inner relish” a delight in knowing that we have kept our words to ourselves.

Everything is easier once we gain a little momentum, so let’s pay the price to capture it. It is never easy to change our lives, and there is no way around the hard work that we will initially have to pay, but the waiting rewards are worth every bit of effort along the way.