I used to be a scientist once upon a time. A geologist, to be exact. As part of my training, I learned numerous scientific principles, like Newton’s laws of motion, for example. You may remember the one that says: “A body in motion stays in motion.”
My science education has often provided insights into issues of daily life, business, and even marketing. It turns out that basic principles of the physical universe can make a lot of sense when applied to challenges like staying productive and overcoming obstacles.
Productivity expert Jari Roomer seems to have discovered this as well. Jari says: “My inner critic is clearly at its strongest at those periods in which I’m not taking enough action. When I don’t have enough momentum, negative self-talk, doubt, and a strong inner critic start to resurface. However, as soon as I take action… my inner critic seems to stifle and lose its power. Remember, it’s often in the moments where we lack momentum that our demons such as fears, insecurities, procrastination, and the inner critic start to creep back in.”
I, also, have found this to be true. If I commit to moving forward with a writing project, it seems to conserve its momentum. Instead of feeling blocked or confused about what comes next, I will often discover that my mind has been busy determining the next step even when I’m not actively writing.
I can magnify this effect by making a note when I end a writing session about what I believe the next step on my project should be. The content of my note may not turn out to be the best direction after I’ve had some time away. But the act of making the note seems to help keep the project in motion — in the background — until my next writing session.
Thanks for the discovery, Professor Newton.
