The famous Jim Rohn once said, “What’s simple to do is also simple not to do.” All I needed to do was have a healthy dinner on Friday night and stop when I am satisfied. All I needed to do was to get out of bed when my body wakes up, regardless of if I thought it was early. The neglect of the former and the hesitation of the latter caused me to end up with a life I did not want. I felt I was not living up to my potential. The neglect and hesitation of those simple things carried over into other areas and I lived in a cloud of guilt and shame. Ultimately my self-confidence suffered a blow to the gut, and it was a challenge to assert myself in social situations. I felt frustrated with myself and I needed deliverance.

Then one day I realized that I was operating out of fear. If I did not neglect a good eating habit on Friday night, I would be rested the next day and be alert to the world. Gosh, how would I face the world and encounters with other people now that I had clarity? I did not think I could handle it. Similarly, if I jumped out of bed, even though it was early, because I was rested and alert, I would have to see the world through clear eyes. I would no longer be distracted by thoughts of regret from hesitation. Or I would not be distracted by how I felt physically after forcing myself to lay down a few seconds longer. I did not think I could handle it. It was simple to do but also simple not to do. But why? Habit.

Merriam-Webster defines habit as “a behavior pattern acquired by frequent repetition…” Charles Duhigg, author of The Power of Habit said, “a habit is a behavior that starts as a choice, and then becomes a nearly unconscious pattern.” In other words, I chose to allow my actions to be dominated by fear and then made that behavior a routine. I realized that the universe challenges me with inertia to start but rewards me with momentum when I push past it. The momentum is when the steps following the first become easier. In fact, after pushing past the inertia, the universe seems to align circumstances to prosper my efforts. In instances where my trajectory may get thwarted because of an unfortunate incident, I can correct appropriately because I am clear on the intended goal. Then I regain momentum.

Simply stated I should not allow fear to hold me back because the payoff of the push past inertia is bigger than the pain of that push.

The bible admonishes us to not fear in Isaiah 41:10,

Do no fear, for I am with you;
Do not be afraid, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you, I will also help you,
I will also uphold you with My righteous right hand

Now go out there and do that thing!