Isaac Newton Was Onto Something

My health journey has been up and down this summer. My plan was to say adios to at least 10 more pounds, and I thought that was being conservative. I mean, it’s the season of outdoor activities and salads, for goodness sake. Yeah, it’s also the season of fruity cocktails, barbecues, and ice cream. Regardless of the direction my eating takes, I do my best to keep moving my body. Otherwise, those 10 pounds I didn’t lose would’ve been 20 pounds I found!

Newton’s Law of Inertia states that an object in motion stays in motion, and an object at rest stays at rest… unless acted upon by an unbalanced force. As long as I move this object (my body), it’s easier to keep doing it. When I break my momentum, it takes a lot of effort to get it going again. My commitment to health must then become the unbalanced force to put this machine back in motion. Getting back in the exercise routine is a lot of friggin’ work. I’d rather just not fall out of it if I can help it.

Every small step you take on anything is like greasing the wheels. While it can be easy to dismiss the importance of tiny actions, it’s those moves that get you to the finish line. My one-hour walk today won’t make those 10 pounds disappear, but it’ll sure keep me heading in the right direction.

When we’re at the dreaming or envisioning stage of any goal, what often keeps us stuck is the idea that we have to jump to completion. It’s as if you’re on one side of the river and you want to get to the other, so you keep backing up with the plan to run and leap. You take off, get to the edge… and come to a screeching halt.

You can do this dance a hundred times over or you can build a bridge. Each small step you take is another board or nail, moving you toward the finish line while establishing a solid foundation underneath you. In the time you’ve spent planning your jump, you could’ve walked across 10 times over!

So where are you feeling stalled right now? What action would represent the first board of your bridge? If you find yourself procrastinating on the step you’ve identified, don’t beat yourself up. It’s probably just too big! Break it down. Start with a nail instead.

Here’s a challenge for you: As soon as you finish this post, brainstorm your first three steps and write them down. Let’s get that object in motion and keep it going. You got this!

Want some more support? Let’s keep the convo going in the comments below.

Until next week, keep taking those small steps to Live Out Loud.