Transformation lies in action, not words
Everyone is looking for transformation in some way. To be smarter, stronger, richer, happier, more attractive, more spiritual, etc; there is something more we all want to be but it comes at a cost. That cost is the discomfort and inconvenience of change.
Why is change so difficult? First and foremost, it means that how we are currently doing things (ie our habits and behaviours) need to be modified. Change comes from acknowledging that what we are currently doing is not giving us the outcome we want. That can be a difficult reality to accept, especially if we are quite attached to our habits. So change, even the thought of it, can bring up a lot of emotion that tell us about how much kapha (earth and water elements) we are storing. A simple analogy is that it takes time and effort to dig into the earth and move it; the same can be said for patterns of behaviour. And that first crack into the hard shell of habit is often the most difficult; just like the first day of waking up early, or changing what you eat at meals. This is why on average only 1 in 5 people can sustain changes in the diet and exercise for six months or more.
Most people fail at making a change not because they don’t want to change or they don’t know what they need to do, but because of inertia. This is the force of resistance that Sir Isaac Newton called the First Law of Motion. The law states that an object at rest will continue to remain at rest, and an object in motion will continue to move unless acted upon by an external force. We all follow this fundamental law of physics where we will adamantly remain at the status quo until pushed in another direction. The classic example is that inner lethargy that stops us from getting out to exercise, only to find that once we get going, it’s difficult to stop because we want to keep going! The good news is that once we make the first move into motion, the same force that kept us at rest can provide us with the momentum to keep going. All it takes is the first step.
This law of inertia is the reason why a good morning routine is key to making positive changes in life and building healthy habits. The early hours of the morning before the sun rises are when vata dosha is active; the wind and space elements which are conducive to change and expansion. This is why early risers tend to be more active, dynamic and able to shift gears through the day - they have tapped into the natural energy of the day and brought into their energy stream. Try it out; spend 10 days waking up by 6am and notice how the quality of the energy is through the day. Even simple things such as our ability to face obstacles and manoeuvre around them can shift as the internal inertia begins to dissipate.
Actions speak louder than words.
If you are looking to make a change, get out of your head and all it’s excuses. Here are three tips to move the needle and make your actions sustainable so that you can move from static to dynamic inertia:
Set specific goals - setting SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound) goals that resonate with you so they help you build momentum and gain confidence in yourself.
Get support - motivation and accountability go a long way, either from a coach, partner, family member or friends who can also help you celebrate wins and troubleshoot challenges.
Make it as easy as possible - set yourself up for success with tools, apps and reminders to help crack the hold habit and replace it.
Transformation lies in incremental changes that shift the inner dynamics of the mind and body; it is the internal inertia that allows us to slowly and steadily become more and more as we gather strength, speed and flexibility. This is thanks to dynamic inertia, which is the tendency of an object to resist change once it is in motion. Once a positive course is set and the actions needed are set into motion, transformation is not just natural, it is inevitable!
Will you take the first step?
