Last week I spoke of critical decisions. Actually, I focused on one. My premise is that one decision can have farther reaching impact than you might think. Sometimes lifelong, but it might just be winter season long. Why? One decision creates a beginning or a start. You have to start something for Momentum to have a life. Momentum is important.
You know Newton’s laws? The first one applies to Inertia. Generally stated – an object in motion stays in motion unless acted upon by an outside force.
You know – start a rock rolling down a hill. Yes, momentum helps us ride. Forward momentum (inertia) is good. Friction is always working to slow you as are the ‘bumps’ we encounter (the outside forces). It is why ‘going faster’ over the rough stuff works. Keeping forward momentum greater than the resistive forces. Forward momentum also applies in other ways – an object in motion in one plane resists motion in another plane. That verbalizes how moving forward on a bike helps keep you from falling over sideways.
Yes, I know. Momentum and Inertia are not the same. To be accurate, inertia is defined as the tendency of a body to oppose the change in its position, whereas Momentum is the tendency of a body to remain in motion. Similar they are … from this point onward we will use the word Momentum as it seems to apply more accurately to where I am going.
Physical Momentum is important. You get that. I do not need to dwell on it.
I believe that Momentum is also important in actions. How? Thanks for asking.
In my life, when I am riding often, I ride often. You just said duhhh didn’t you? Hang with me. You know how it goes, but allow me use another example. Jane wants to lose weight. She loses some weight, which motivates her to stay the path. She loses more weight, her diet gets even better. Momentum. Success encourages ‘momentum’. Success encourages you to stay the course and allows continued success … which I am calling momentum.
It works both in-task and out-of-task. What? Stay with me here. When I am riding frequently, then it is easier for me to make the time to ride regularly. Doing it creates momentum and helps keep the motivation and momentum. That is in-task (riding) but it also often reaches outside of the current task and influences other actions/tasks. When I am riding well and feeling good on the bike, I make healthier choices in other areas – food, sleep, etc. Do you? I think most do. Motivation grows because of the momentum created. That momentum affects the current or primary task but also ‘bleeds’ and affects other related or parallel tasks. That is a good thing.
It works the other other way also.
Have you heard someone say, “I am off track at the gym so I might as well eat this extra ice cream, taco etc…” Same thing – momentum – or lack thereof. The momentum changed and thus off-track in one area often allows us to get off-track in another. A loss of momentum stops progress and starting again – getting that momentum going – takes more energy. It is that outside force mentioned earlier. Often it takes more energy to get going again than to keep going. Still, this is Newtown’s first law which also states that an object at rest remains at rest unless acted upon by an outside force. You are that force. Once momentum stops it takes force to start it again. And – if the object is at rest, outside forces from other directions can have a larger influence/effect on the object (bad influences). Remember above that an object in motion is one plane resists motion in other planes. So momentum in one direction (positive action/task) resists the negative forces that want to ‘knock you off course’. Once momentum has ceased, those outside forces in other planes have a great impact/effect on you. Am I getting too deep?
Of course, when science meets the real world and the variables are more infinite there are variations. Albert Einstein said, “As far as the laws of mathematics refer to reality, they are not certain; and as far as they are certain, they do not refer to reality.” Hah, love that .. and from the man himself. And, yes, that is him on the bike.
This just means that sometimes in real life, once that object gets in motion (our diet) sometimes the outside force is in ourselves. You want an example? Sure. I was young and stopped to visit a friend in the next department. I knew she was on a diet and exercise regiment because I helped her create the plan. When I walked in the door she was eating a big cookie. I commented. I know, I should have left it alone, but remember … I was young. She said, “I have been doing great on my diet so I am eating a cookie.” What did I say? The wrong thing. I said, “Yes, I agree. I have been driving well lately, so I am just going to run into that telephone pole.” Yeah, it was funny. Everyone in the room laughed. She threw me out. Hah. We were still friends. The more mature me understands balance. Sometimes we need that balance (cookie) to stay motivated to continue the course and not give up. Sometimes that cookie alters the momentum of the diet for the worse. Ahhh, adulting is not easy.
Anyway – Momentum and Motivation. One can amplify the other – in either direction. They are active whether you are consciously aware of them or not. Being aware of them is beneficial. It even allows you to use that momentum … just like forward momentum on the bike resists forces that want you to fall over sideways. The questions is, are we aware of the impact of Momentum and Motivation? and … how do you use them?
