Why You Can’t Really Stay The Same

noun

1. PHYSICS

   a thermodynamic quantity representing the unavailability of a system’s thermal energy for conversion into mechanical work, often interpreted as the degree of disorder or randomness in the system.
2. lack of order or predictability; gradual decline into disorder.

   “a marketplace where entropy reigns supreme”

   synonyms:

   deterioration, degeneration, crumbling, decline, degradation,decomposition, breaking down, collapse

What caught your attention there?

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It’s true that nothing ever stays the same. The bad news is that if it’s not improving, then it’s only getting worse.  Or getting left in the dust. You’re lucky if it will stay the same. And more often that not, things that stay the same for a long, long time rarely stay relevant for a long, long time.

Dr. Stephen Covey says in one of his lectures that “principles govern.” That you can’t pass a law to repeal the law of gravity.  That there are universal principles and laws that hold fast, constant, and ever affect our lives, whether we like it or not.

It’s a matter of recognizing it, and living with it.  I don’t like the fact that when I pinch myself I feel pain, but there’s a reason for that, and that’s one of the ways our bodies work, how the world works. We don’t have to like it to live with it, or grow despite it.

Such is entropy.  In a nutshell, this can be translated as:

“If you don’t use it, you lose it.”

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Relationships

Connections with people can be so fragile, yet so strong and resilient at the same time.  But relationships, if not nurtured, or invested in, stagnate, wither, and fade away.

You lose contact with people, haven’t seen them for a long time.  The next time you see them, you may not recognize them. People change, and along with it your relationship with them.

So if it’s a relationship that’s important to you, or still is important to you, then take some time and energy to reconnect with that person. Or that group.

Send an email or a simple text message.  Something even as simple as: “I remembered our times together, how are you now?”

Give them a call, or invite them out for lunch, dinner, or even coffee.

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Career

If you’re not improving, you’re stagnating, maybe even losing your touch.  How have you improved at what you do at work? Or even where you are at work? Or at what you do, your mission?

Have you ever caught yourself doing the same tasks over and over again, but with no noticeable improvement, additions, or changes? Not bigger, wider, deeper, or better?

Are those same tasks not being done with the same energy and enthusiasm? And what if those tasks don’t lead to an end result that you really, really want?

Ugh. What an ugly situation to be in.

Find ways to keep things fresh and challenging for you.  Go for an additional role, or a new role.  Find better or more efficient and effective ways of doing your mission. Volunteer for causes that are important for you.

Learn new things! Take up a new hobby, like cooking, learning a musical instrument, or learning a new language.

Keep on improving your skills. Keep on finding opportunities outside where you are, and inside what you do.  Get closer to getting where you want to go, and to getting what you want.

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Health

One of the worst experiences I have ever had was being out with a severe fever and cold, and not having the strength to get out of bed.  After the week and a half of that, I felt like I had no energy, and I was so weak physically.  I even had trouble running again.

Nowhere is “if you don’t use it, you lose it” more apparent that with your muscles.

And your body too! That’s why in this computer screen, mobile phone world we live in, taking time to exercise, and get our bodies moving and stronger, is all the more important.

Without exercise and activity, our body degrades over time.  Soon, sickness will overcome you. Bodily pain, bad posture, and low energy are bound to come about.  More so for those doing nothing but sitting in front of a screen, typing away.

Take frequent breaks from sitting down too much, and get to walking around.  Take the stairs more often.  Get as much physical activity as you can during your days in the office.

Make exercise a priority.  Get exercise that’s frequent enough and intense enough to make an improvement in your general state of health.

As we get older, our body also weakens. It’s a principle. Only through constant exercise and improvement can we have better energy and strength as we age.

Especially if there’s something you want to achieve.  You’re going to need all the energy and strength you can get your hands on.  Start developing that now.

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Beliefs

What we believe, and how we see the world, is also subject to entropy.

Our minds operate on a simple principle: “Garbage In, Garbage Out”

What we put in our heads, is reflected by how we see the world, which then influences what we do.

So if it’s full of negative, small, limiting beliefs, what then can the observations, realizations, and actions stem from those beliefs?

Even what we believe has to be either renewed, strengthened, or changed.

So if you’re not getting what you want, maybe it’s time for you to change how you see and accept things.  Change what you believe in and how things would turn out.  Along with the doing, comes the changing.

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Entropy, overcome it or die trying.  Be in the fight for improvement, and against stagnation, and if you’re not, then it’s never too late to start.

What are other ways you can do to beat entropy?

Through creating rock-solid positive habits.

Through doing and moving forward.

Through going what’s life-giving for you.

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Have any other ideas on how to constantly improve? Kindly share in the comments below!