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Overcoming Inertia: The Struggle Against Stagnation
Three steps for overcoming the reluctance to move ahead and thrive
Inertia is a force that subtly affects all of us. A lingering stillness keeps us bound in patterns of thought, action, or even inaction. There is an overwhelming resistance to change and a trap that becomes more limiting with time.
Inertia seems like a silent antagonist in our life stories. I suspect it grows worse as we age, or become overwhelmed by responsibilities, or face personal challenges that seem too difficult to manage. Yet, despite its paralyzing effect, inertia is not insurmountable.
In recent weeks, a conversation with a retired acquaintance illuminated the inertia problem. This quiet figure, living in a senior community, confided that he found himself adrift in a sea of time, his days filled with a quiet sort of nothingness. “There’s nothing to do,” he said.
His life, stripped of its daily structure and obligations, had lost its direction and momentum. With no responsibilities demanding his attention, inertia had settled in, turning his days into an endless haze of passivity.
This is not a rare phenomenon. As people retire, lose loved ones, or face the frailties of aging, they are often confronted with the emptiness of an unfocused life; the siren call of idleness is a…