Newton's 1st Law of 2020 Resolutions
"An object at rest stays at rest and an object in motion stays in motion with the same speed and in the same direction unless acted upon by an unbalanced force." -Newton's 1st law of motion
I am constantly curious to understand human behavior and what effects change in our lives. The turn of the year, and even more the decade, is a wonderful opportunity to ponder this phenomenon. I've read books on changing behavior (Robbins, Gladwell, Duhigg, etc), listened to podcasts (Goggins, Manson, Harris, etc) and been inspired by the stories of real people (Branson, Knight, Oprah, etc) who have wrestled change into their lives and the world. Today, I want to ideate on habits through the laws of physics.
1 - Habits at rest : The things we aren't doing.
I have a laundry list of things I wish were regular pieces of my routine that simply aren't. On the surface, time is typically seen as the main constraint. While there's truth in that, the deeper reality is my internal priorities don't reflect my long term goals. In a culture that demands instant gratification above all else, many of the habits I wish were regular parts of my life are in direct conflict with my immediate comfort.
What does this tell me about my habits at rest? They will remain at rest unless my priorities are enacted upon by an unbalanced force. Until my mindset towards what I value shifts from what I want now to what I want to create then my habits will remain stationary.
2 - Habits in motion : The things we do.
It baffles me how many things I do that I wish I didn't do (as much as I do them). I want to be more present, yet I'm continually distracted by technology. I want to keep a better routine, yet I continually find myself making exceptions (classic Enneagram 7). I have many habits that I see in direct opposition towards the things I "want" to do and be doing. I want to read more, but binge watching Netflix is easier, etc. One of the things I've realized over the last decade is this:
What you feed will grow and what you starve will die.
I reinforce habits that detract from my assumed desires because I feed them. I've often wondered why I can't simply want change bad enough that it becomes real. It comes down to the reality that wanting something to change is not a strong enough unbalanced force. My habits in motion need to be met by stronger alternative habits to slow them and change them.
My Takeaway
As I'm considering the changes and goals I want to implement in 2020 I'm taking stock of what my current reality is today. Questioning my hierarchy of values towards habits I don't have, and understanding the forces that perpetuate the habits I maintain. I want to accomplish some very big things in 2020, but I'm realizing that all of those things will flow from changes in myself.
Yesterday I was clever, so I wanted to change the world. Today I am wise, so I am changing myself. - Rumi
Nice article I am strong believer of habits building
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5 年Love it James. These principles are immutable. I'd add "our" bodies stay in motion with purposeful effort to stay in motion. Meaning, friction, wear, and tear will slow us down or worse cause us to stop. So we not only need the new habit (easier motion over time) we also need a strategy in place to account for dealing with the friction of creating and sustaining the habit. Hope that makes sense.?
Executive, Entrepreneur, Board Member
5 年James, I love the way you write and express yourself. Along the lines of this post, I have a coach that uses the term offense and defense. if life is lived a series of responses (to desires, to circumstances, etc) then we are constantly in defensive mode. Conversely, when we take the time to exam what we truly value, we go about decision making in an offensive way. We bring to the world our very best because it's founded in ideals behind which we can truly rally. I'm very much a work in progress, but viewing the world, the year, or better yet the single day, through this lens is something that has really resonated with me. Here's to the best version of each of us for 2020!