Energy & Momentum

“When it rains, it pours.” I recently got this text message from a friend.  This friend went on to explain all of the bad things that were happening in his life.  It seems like a pretty common story.  When life gets tough, it just seems to get tougher.  Fortunately, I believe it works the other way too; just when you think life can’t get any better…it does.  That’s my topic for today’s journal entry: Energy & Momentum.

In basic physics terms, “An object in motion remains in motion unless acted upon by an external force”. Quite simply, once you’re moving in a direction…you keep moving in that direction until something changes your path.  Have you ever noticed how bad days seem to only get worse?  Some days, it just seems like you can’t do anything right?  Well, I think it’s absolutely the case.

While many blame outside influences when they’re having a rough time, I believe the root of your energy comes from within.  Ultimately, we determine our path in life.  Now, I’m sure the nay-sayers are already screaming… “You just have it easy; you should meet my boss” or “Yeah, right, try telling that to my mother-in-law!!” Well, for the most part, I believe it doesn’t matter.  Now, before you tell me I’m crazy and de-friend me on Facebook, hear me out…

There’s another famous quote that I live by; “Grant me the serenity to accept the things I can not change; courage to change the things I can; and the wisdom to know the difference.” While it’s religious in nature, I believe it applies to all our problems.  In fact, I even use it in solving engineering problems.  It’s simple: look at the problem at hand, find the root of the problem and then determine your options.  It’s not likely that you can change your boss’s management style…and, there’s absolutely no way in the world you can change your mother-in-law!!!  So…what do we do; throw in the towel be miserable for the rest of your life?  If it’s up to me…absolutely not!

“Accept the things I can not change” is only the first part of the quote.  What about that second line; “courage to change the things I can”?  Ok, here comes the nay-sayer again: “But, Dave, you just said we’ll never change our mother-in-law!!!” Well, Mr. Nay-Sayer, you’re right, you can’t change others.  However, there is something you can change…YOU!

Ah-ha!  You see how I did that?!?  I started with you…and came back to you.  Guess what, it’s all about you!!!  You control your own destiny.  The key is to focus on being positive.  Just like negativity breeds negativity, positivity breeds positivity.  Positive or negative…you decide.

Let’s go back to Newton for a minute.  “An object in motion remains in motion, blah blah…”  Earlier, I used this to describe how bad gets worse.  I think we all agree that this is the case.  So, let’s find a way to stop this energy before it gets into motion.  We’ll use another physics term; Kinetic Energy.

Kinetic Energy is “the energy an object possesses due to its motion.”  In simple terms, it’s the energy from within.  Some call this momentum.  Ok, one more time from the nay-sayers, “But, Dave, that’s the same thing.  Momentum is Newton’s Law.” You’re right again, Mr. Nay-Sayer. (Man, you’re a smart guy!!!)

So, let’s go back to my engineering problem.  If it’s hard to stop something in motion, when is it easy to stop something?  When it’s not in motion!!!  Ta-Da.  My work here is done…see ya later.

Oh, no…wait.  This is the most important part.  If I’m starting to lose you…take break, grab a beer…and come back to me.  This is it, right here.  This…

It’s easy to stop something before it’s moving.  Hmmmm.  How does that apply to my life?  Guess what, it goes back to you!!!  Every morning, we wake up.  It’s a fresh new day.  We open our eyes and a series of events throughout the day will determine whether it’s a good day or bad day.

Uh, oh.  It’s Mr. Nay-Sayer again!!!  “HA!  Dave, you can’t predict what happens in life.  Even religious people believe you can’t control your own destiny!!!” Well, Mr. Nay-Sayer, while I hear what you’re saying…for the first time today, you’re wrong.  I just have to use semantics to prove it.  While you can’t control outside influences into your life, you CAN control how you react to said influences.  This is my final theory; and it’s one that is the key to the energy you have in your daily life.

I believe “Life is 10% circumstance and 90% reaction.”  While we can’t control others, we can control ourselves. (Sound familiar?!?)  Have you ever heard the phrase “kill ‘em with kindness”?  That’s a great place to start…

YOU decide whether it’s positive or negative.  YOU control your own destiny.  Pull in our momentum again for a minute.  Let’s pretend you are a skateboard on the top of a large hill.  On each side of this hill is a road.  One road leads to negative…but, the other leads to positive.  Both roads are identical.  You start the day sitting still, high atop the hill.  Look out over that sunrise, isn’t it beautiful??  Man, wouldn’t it be nice to have a great day??  Hmmm, ok…let’s do it.

Now, it’s up to you.  How do you get to the positive good side of the bottom of this hill??  You choose to roll that way.  It’s that easy.  Happiness is a fish that you can catch!!!  Here’s the key…start the day heading in the right direction.  Remember momentum, it’s a lot easier to push a crooked-faced-little-fat-guy on a skateboard down a hill than it is back up it…

If you are positive, others around you will be positive.  If they’re not, it doesn’t matter…this fat kid is already heading down the hill.  See you later, suckers!!!!

I know you think I’m crazy, but isn’t it worth a shot??  I’ll tell you, it works for me.  Don’t get me wrong, there are days I end up on the wrong side of the hill.  I’ve learned to live with them.  Shut my mouth, ride it out…and wait for another chance tomorrow.  If you still don’t believe me, send me an email.  I’ll share some stories with you that will inspire you.  Every day, I mount my extra-sturdy-fat-kid skateboard, point it in the direction of that positive side of the hill and I take off…and, every day, I’m amazed at the greatness this life gives me.

YOU can do the same.

 

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