Navigating the Treacherous Waters of "Good Enough"

This piece delves into the powerful and often subconscious force of inertia as a primary impediment to personal change and growth, particularly for men facing midlife stagnation. Drawing on an anecdote about an investment gone sour due to a CEO's inertia-driven behaviour, it explains inertia through both its literal meaning (laziness, idleness) and its application in physics (resistance to change in motion or state). Cognitive inertia is highlighted as the reason we resist even beneficial change, clinging to the "status quo" and "comfort zone" due to the lack of effort required, the fear of negative outcomes, and the "zone of average." The text illustrates inertia in daily habits, historical resistance to innovation, and the tendency to "double down" when wrong, particularly in public statements and group dynamics. Ultimately, it emphasises recognising the pervasive nature of the inertia default as the critical first step in combating it.