Friction - The Silent Saboteur
We all know what friction looks like. It’s the lack of time to get to the supermarket, cook a healthy meal or squeeze in that daily walk. It’s staying wrapped up in a warm bed when the alarm rings, or grabbing takeaway instead of packing your lunch. Life is busy—there’s always a lot to juggle—and for that reason, friction points seem endless. Every single one makes creating change and living healthier feel harder than it needs to be.
But even though we know these friction points exist, we keep forgetting them. Instead, we blame ourselves, labelling missed workouts or unhealthy choices as failures of willpower or discipline. We zero in on the struggle, doubling down on motivation and effort, often forcing solutions into our lives that just don’t fit. It’s not just you. Most of us have grown up believing that success requires motivation, discipline, and relentless effort. But here’s the thing: those resources are limited. Every time we lean heavily on them, they get drained. When we finally run out, the pressure becomes too much, and we give up. Yes, pressure can create diamonds—but too much pressure breaks even the strongest foundations.
When you’re ready to move forward, the instinct is often to search immediately for solutions and chase results. But by stepping back to see how these solutions actually fit your life—or by clearly identifying current friction points—you gain genuine clarity on where to focus. Choosing strategies that fit your life and actively reduce friction means you naturally lower your reliance on motivation, willpower and discipline. These qualities remain important, but by not constantly overusing them or adding unnecessary pressure, they’ll still be strong and available when you truly need them.
Here’s the thing: creating change isn’t about fighting harder. It’s about clearly seeing the small yet powerful friction points quietly sabotaging your progress. Once you pinpoint and gently remove what’s holding you back, everything shifts.
Hopefully, you’ve started to see that what felt like a missing piece was actually hidden in plain sight. Moving forward isn’t just about chasing results—it’s about taking the time to notice friction, either before it shows up or as it appears and asking whether the solution truly fits your life. Pick one area of focus and ask yourself:
Does it fit my lifestyle?
Is it maintainable?
Do I enjoy it?
Can I reduce or remove any friction?
What could I add to make it easier?
When I try something new, where does the friction show up?
The answers don’t need to be perfect—they just need to be honest. Once you see where friction lives, you can begin to remove it. That’s when change becomes possible—and sustainable.
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This article is for general insight and reflection. It’s not a substitute for professional advice or therapy.