Crow’s Feet Writing Prompt #70
Let’s Talk About Negative Inertia
A tiny change in perspective can have a big impact
In physics, negative inertia is an unusual property of matter that results in the perception that a physical body has a negative mass. In life, however, the definition of negative inertia is more likely to be the practice of supreme avoidance or perhaps terminal procrastination.
Overcoming negative inertia is the one tiny change I’ve made in my life with the biggest impact. Overcoming negative inertia might seem like a very big deal, but to me it was more like a shift in perspective from negative to positive, much like flicking a switch. The result, though, was lasting — inaction turned into action and optimism replaced pessimism.
Of course, overcoming negative inertia is not without its challenges. Many humans seem to be naturally risk-averse. It is often easier to embrace the status quo, to stay the course, to leave well enough alone.
Negative inertia is not a one-time thing, because you are constantly faced with many negative inertia moments. Should I stay on the couch or get up and take a walk that will benefit my health? Should I tackle an unpleasant task I know needs to be done or put it off? Should I talk with my significant other about…
