Why the "New You" is Being Pulled Back Down
In our last post, we talked about combining the fire of Massive Action with the structure of Atomic Habits. We looked at how the New Year serves as a launchpad for a Quantum Leap—that sudden, powerful shift from one level of existence to a higher orbit.
In physics, when an electron jumps to a higher energy level, it doesn't just stay there automatically. It is in an excited state, and the laws of nature want to pull it back to its "ground state." It’s a natural, constant pull toward the path of least resistance.
In life, the moment you take that leap—the moment you start waking up at 5 AM, leading with radical honesty, or finally prioritizing your health—the universe starts trying to pull you back down. This is the "decay" of the New Year. And if you aren’t careful, the very people and places you love will become the anchors that drag you back to the old you.
The Gravity of the Familiar
When you change your orbit, you change the "frequency" of your life. But your environment—your home, your office, your social circle—is often still tuned to the old station.
We often talk about "support systems," but we rarely talk about "gravity systems."
· Family: They love the "old you" because that version of you is predictable and safe. When you start changing, it mirrors their own lack of movement. Their "Are you sure you want to do that?" isn't always malice; it’s their own comfort zone trying to maintain the status quo.
Friends: If your social life is built on shared vices or mutual complaining, your growth is a threat to the group dynamic. Crabs in a bucket don’t need a lid; they just need each other to pull the one who climbs too high back down.
Environment: Your physical space is a graveyard of old habits. The couch "knows" you as the person who watches three hours of Netflix. The kitchen "knows" you as the person who reaches for the sugar when stressed.
The Risk of Decay
If you don't actively fuel your new orbit, you will experience orbital decay. You’ll start missing those atomic habits "just once." You’ll let a friend talk you into a late night that ruins your next morning's deep work. You’ll stop saying "I am the kind of person who..." and start saying "I'm trying to..."
Slowly, the energy drains away. You don't crash all at once; you just drift lower and lower until you're right back where you started, wondering why the "New Year, New Me" spark fizzled out by February.
How to Maintain Altitude
To stay in the higher orbit, you have to acknowledge the pull of gravity and counteract it with intentional energy:
Set Your "Escape Velocity" Boundaries: You have to be willing to be the "boring" one or the "difficult" one for a while. If your new orbit requires sobriety, silence, or intense focus, you must protect that space ruthlessly.
Audit Your Inner Circle: Jim Rohn famously said we are the average of the five people we spend the most time with. If your "Big Five" are all in a lower orbit, they will eventually pull you back down. Find a "peer orbit" that challenges your new height.
Redesign the Laboratory: Change your environment so it reflects the person you are becoming, not the person you were. Throw out the junk food. Move the desk. Change your morning route. Make it hard to fall back into old patterns.
The Hero’s Choice
Taking the leap is the easy part—it’s an emotional high. Staying in the leap is where the real work happens. It’s a daily decision to choose the discomfort of the new orbit over the familiar safety of the old one.
Don't let the gravity of your past dictate the height of your future. Acknowledge the pull, tighten your habits, and keep your eyes on the horizon. The view is much better from up here.
Until next time,
Scott and Lennart