For Every Action, There's a Reaction
For Every Action, There's a Reaction
The Power of Action: Applying Newton’s Third Law to Life’s Journey
Unlocking Potential: Applying Newton’s Laws to Personal Growth
In this final edition of our newsletter series, we’ll explore how Newton’s Third Law offers profound insights into how our actions lead to the reactions we experience. Understanding this principle more deeply can help you overcome fears and create the outcomes you desire through deliberate actions.
Third Law of Newton - Explained Simply
Newton's Third Law states that every action has an equal and opposite reaction. Simply put, if you push on something, it pushes back with the same force in the opposite direction. This idea doesn’t just apply to physical objects; it can also help us understand how our actions in life lead to reactions.
Let's revisit the ball example from the last newsletter, where we discussed how through force, mass can be moved in the desired direction. When a person applies a force action on the ball, the ball exerts an equal and opposite force unless the person's force is greater.
Let’s revisit the ball example from the previous newsletter. When a person applies force to move the ball, the ball pushes back with an equal force unless the person’s force is greater. Similarly, our mindset (the "MinD") is like that ball — it holds us back with fears and limiting beliefs, but when we apply the right mindset and action, we can overcome those barriers and unlock potential.
“I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, by the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear” - Nelson Mandela.
The Power of the Mind: Overcoming Inertia and Harnessing Your Potential
As we’ve explored, our MinD can either be a barrier or an open door. The knowledge we’ve accumulated over the years can either hold us back or propel us forward, depending on how we harness it.
The actions we complete, will result in reactions we receive.
In our exploration of Newton’s First Law, we introduced the concept of overcoming inertia. Inertia in our MinD often stems from fear and limiting beliefs developed from our negative experiences, holding us back to take action.
Breaking free from inertia is crucial for progress. To do so, we need to take small, consistent actions. These actions build momentum and gradually replace negative experiences with positive ones. As we continue, the lessons learned from each step help guide us forward.
Without taking small regular action, there is no hindsight to inform the reactions that shape our foresight.
These small actions generate experiences, both successes, and failures, that serve as learning opportunities. Through this process we develop a deeper understanding of our strengths, weaknesses, and the world around us.
The results we get are shaped by what we choose to 'Act-I-On.' The phrase itself reminds us that we must take action — 'I' must act — and direct our mind towards the goals and desires we want to achieve.
Often, the reactions we get from our actions aren't what we expect, and this is where fear of failure can take over. Our MinD may urge us to retreat to our comfort zone, avoiding further action. But it’s important to remember: the process of trial and error is what leads us to the results we seek.
Action and Reaction in Practice
Imagine it’s a Saturday morning, and you’re about to bake a cake — the kind that fills your kitchen with the comforting scent of vanilla and sugar. You gather the ingredients — flour, eggs, butter, and sugar — and begin. As you mix, you can already picture the cake rising, golden and fluffy. But here’s the catch: the outcome depends on the conditions you set. If you rush and ignore the temperature, the cake could flop. Similarly, in life, without care and attention, our efforts might fall flat. But if you get the temperature right, adjust when needed, and give it time — the cake will rise beautifully.
Now, imagine that every small action you take is like an atom in a massive network, each contributing to something much greater. Just as a single atom is a building block of matter, your small actions build your personal growth. And like atoms in dough, which are constantly in motion, our minds are made of billions of impulses that shape who we are.
When an atom is subjected to heat, it reacts — and under the right conditions, this reaction creates something profound. Similarly, when we step outside our comfort zones, endure discomfort, and face challenges, our growth can be just as transformative. Like the atoms in dough, we are shaped by the pressure and heat of our experiences. Our resilience and patience ultimately determine our outcome.
The key to personal growth is resilience and patience. The atoms in dough may seem small, but when they interact under heat, they form something much greater: a perfectly risen cake. Likewise, when we embrace discomfort and remain patient, we emerge stronger and more capable. Those who endure the heat — the discomfort and uncertainty — rise higher and achieve greater success.
Our minds, like atoms, are in constant motion. The small, consistent actions we take each day build momentum, and when we face challenges with patience, we experience growth as profound as dough rising in the oven. Just as a perfectly baked cake requires time and careful attention, our greatest achievements come when we trust the process and keep moving forward.
The Ingredients We Control
In life, much like in the example above, the only thing truly within our control is our MinD — the thoughts, decisions, and actions we choose to take. Everything outside of that, represented by the vast unknown, is beyond our control.
Action is in our control, the reaction is not.
Take the example of the Hubble Space Telescope (HST), launched in 1990. The sheer scale of energy required to send it into outer space is staggering: it took approximately 1,000,000 kg of fuel to propel the telescope and its rocket, which weighed a total of 2,041,164 kg. That’s an immense amount of energy, working under extreme pressure, just like the force needed to make a cake rise.
Circle of Control for Hubble Engineers:
Intention: Set to explore the depths of space and uncover the mysteries of the universe.
Knowledge: Engineers accumulated the expertise needed to build a rocket powerful enough to propel the telescope into the vast unknown.
Action: They built a rocket capable of reaching space and carrying the telescope on its journey, ensuring it could travel vast distances to gather vital data.
But the Reaction — how the mission unfolded once the rocket was launched — was never fully under their control.
Despite the careful planning and intention, there were numerous obstacles. During the launch, engineers discovered a manufacturing defect in the primary mirror of the telescope, a flaw that threatened its effectiveness. Yet, the Hubble Space Telescope still managed to complete its mission, revealing profound discoveries about the universe. Today, it orbits 550 kilometers above Earth.
At that height, everything except for the telescope itself is beyond the engineers' control. Even a small asteroid, for instance, could have rendered the mission obsolete. Yet, in spite of the uncontrollable risks, Hubble’s engineers adapted and used the reaction (the unexpected flaw in the mirror) as a learning opportunity, adjusting their approach and re-setting their intentions for future missions
Just as the HST was launched into the vast unknown with a clear intention and plan, we too have the power to set our own course in life. We may face challenges along the way — unexpected setbacks or things outside our control — but it’s how we respond to those reactions that ultimately defines our growth.
The engineers behind the HST mission didn't control the reactions — they couldn't control the defect or the potential risks of space — but they used hindsight to adjust, learn, and keep moving forward. In our own lives, the ability to recognize and learn from reactions (whether successes or failures) is just as crucial as taking intentional action.
Like the HST engineers, we can rise above challenges, using the knowledge and actions we control to keep moving toward our goals, while embracing the uncertainty of what lies beyond our control.
The MinDvesting Philosophy
Ultimately, the key is to focus on the actions we can control and adapt to the reactions we face, learning and evolving along the way. Many of us put in the hard work, but it's easy to stumble at the final hurdle and give up. We often complete 95% of the journey, but that last 5% — when our MinD is under extreme pressure — is where true growth happens. The greatest minds are those who push through the fear of the unknown, open the door, and boldly run toward success, learning from every failure along the way.
Remember the limiting factor in all of the above is only the MinD.
Appreciate your time and making it this far in the post, keep reading over time.