Newton’s first law of motion deals with inertia, and can be stated as:
“An object at rest remains at rest, and an object in motion remains in motion at constant speed and in a straight line unless acted on by an unbalanced force.”
Outside forces acting in on you
Newton’s laws of motion are not always discussed in connection with your everyday experience of the world. Consider for a moment the forces that act on you daily, weekly, monthly? From the perpetual demands of work and relationships and efforts in self-care, these forces have an impact on you. Don’t forget the physical environment. You might experience the world quite differently on very hot or cold days, or after a month of rainy gray weather.
Dealing with outside forces
How do you cope with these forces acting in your life?
Some people are wired towards feeling great while others run programs more often towards feeling more grumpy. You may find solace in throwing yourself into your work, channeling your energy productively to distract yourself or escape the forces. Other options include seeking refuge in some kind or another self-care practice such as adjusting your diet, sleep, or exercise habits.
If you are the kind that more often tends towards grumpiness this is for you.
Doing nothing about it
On the other hand you might do nothing about the forces, just quietly resist. Seemingly nothing that is.
For a while you may not notice anything, yet over time the compounding effect of the external forces acting on you will inevitably start to push you out of balance.
As you get more out of balance you will start to notice an increase in negative emotions, discontent, and dissatisfaction. It may be subtle at first although in the ocean of life without a sail or motor pushing you towards happiness you are almost guaranteed to end up on The Island of Grump. Like many you might live there for a while before you realize where you landed and then remember the lyrics of the song Once in a Lifetime by Talking Heads.
“And you may say to yourself, “Well, how did I get here?”
Dangers of living on The Island of Grump
Research has shown that chronic stress and negative emotions can have profound effects on both physical and mental health. Living on The Island of Grump brings with it prolonged exposure to stress hormones like cortisol which can weaken the immune system, increase the risk of heart disease, and contribute to a host of other health problems. Similarly, negative emotions such as anger, resentment, and hostility have been linked to an increased risk of depression, anxiety, and other mood disorders.
Reset your day in minutes with the Stress Management Techniques guide for men — practical tools you can use right now.
The impacts extend past just your health. Studies have shown a strong correlation between emotional well-being and your overall quality of life. To no surprise, those with more feelings of greatness compared to grumpiness reported higher levels of contentment, satisfaction, and showed increased resiliency when faced with adversity.
It is clear that the long-term impact of choosing no or weak action as it relates to the outside forces on your life can have negative impacts on your health and ability to experience a fulfilled meaningful life. By paying attention to the first signs of imbalance and taking small steps to address them you can prevent the downstream extended stay on The Island of Grump. By prioritizing small steps you drastically increase your chances for improved quality of life and health.
The Talking Heads encourage introspection in their song Once in a Lifetime.
Take their advice and do not just let the days go by.
If you enjoyed reading this, go browse other posts under our Thoughts and Ideas section.
Take a moment and look at our Gallery with original Haiku and about aspects on habits and discipline.
Want to get a weekly email from us?
Sign up below for the Momentum Mementos and get a short email from us every week to help you maintain momentum on your own journey.
We would love your feedback.
