The Hidden Force Holding You Back
Beware of Homeostasis
Matthew Steinbach | Jan. 28, 2025
Homeostasis Is Stronger Than You!
Over the last few weeks, we’ve shared insights to help make 2025 your best year yet. Many of you have undoubtedly used the New Year as an opportunity to reset, refocus, and set resolutions or goals to kickstart your journey of improvement. But now, with January coming to a close and February just around the corner, the initial spark of motivation may be fading. This is the moment when a hidden force begins to take hold: homeostasis—the powerful internal resistance that quietly works to pull you back into your comfort zone. Understanding and overcoming this force is the key to sustaining progress and achieving meaningful change.
Homeostasis: Why Are We Talking Science?
In biology, homeostasis refers to the body’s innate drive to maintain a stable internal environment, even when external conditions change. But this principle extends beyond biology—it applies to every aspect of our lives. As Leonard and Murphy (1995) noted, “Every one of us resists significant change, no matter whether it’s for the worse or for the better. Our body, brain, and behavior have a built-in tendency to stay the same within rather narrow limits.”
Understanding this resistance is crucial for long-term growth. True transformation doesn’t happen in quick bursts or overnight success stories. As George Leonard emphasizes in Mastery, real progress often unfolds during plateaus—those long, seemingly uneventful stretches of hard work when visible results aren’t apparent.
By the time January ends, many of you may have already felt the pull of homeostasis. If you haven’t seen immediate results from your efforts, it’s easy to think about quitting or changing course. In fact, this is the very reason why 43% of New Year’s resolutions are abandoned within the first month, and an overwhelming 92% don’t make it through the year
Don’t Give Up – Beware of the Hidden Forces of Homeostasis
Homeostasis thrives on comfort and predictability. If you’ve spent the first few weeks of the new year pushing yourself outside your comfort zone—mentally, physically, or emotionally—now is the time to bring awareness to the forces working behind the scenes. No matter how strong-willed or disciplined you are, biology has a way of pulling us back toward comfort and routine.
Homeostasis often nudges us to abandon our goals when progress feels slow or challenges arise. However, by recognizing this hidden force and staying committed through the inevitable plateaus, you can push through the resistance and achieve meaningful growth.
In high-performance golf, this principle is particularly important. Much of the work you’re putting in now—whether it’s those early morning workouts or the journaling practices to sharpen your mental game—won’t yield immediate results. It’s easy to skip a session or postpone a habit when the payoff feels distant. That’s why your daily habits must connect to your goals and align with a deeper sense of purpose. Your goals should inspire you, resonate with your broader vision, and motivate the habits required to achieve them.
Meaningful growth requires stepping beyond the comfortable and staying the course, even when results seem out of reach. The path will be challenging, and the destination may feel uncertain at times. Yet, your potential for transformative results lies in embracing the plateau and resisting the pull of homeostasis. When you develop an awareness of this resistance and stay aligned with your goals, you can keep moving forward toward your vision.
Kick Homeostasis’ Butt – Stay Strong and Stay on the Path
At One Iota, our philosophy is simple: get a little better every day. While results may not be immediately perceptible, the compounding effect of consistent effort is exponential. As February approaches and the initial energy of the New Year fades, here are a few strategies to keep homeostasis at bay:
1) Don’t Miss Twice
Missing a day is often inevitable, give yourself some grace—but don’t let it become two days in a row. Consistency is key.
2) Review Your Goals, Motivation, and Purpose
If you’ve already written down your goals, revisit them. Journal about their importance, connect them to your life, and let yourself feel the emotions behind them.If you haven’t done this work yet, now is the time. Your goals should align with a deep sense of purpose—something you truly want. If you’re not motivated to push through homeostasis, you might have set the wrong goals.
3) Don’t Forget Rest and Recovery
Injury, illness, or burnout are signs that you’re pushing too hard without balancing rest and recovery. Don’t view these as failures. Instead, plan intentional rest and recovery to recharge.
As Stulberg and Magness emphasize in Peak Performance:
Growth = Stress + Rest
Stress creates the conditions for improvement, but rest is what allows your body and mind to consolidate those gains and take your performance to the next level.
Be Aware of Homeostasis and Embrace the Plateau
Homeostasis can be a double-edged sword. While routines and stability are essential for building consistency—whether in daily life, a round of golf, or even a single shot—they can also lead to stagnation if left unchecked.
Breaking free from homeostasis is no easy task, but the rewards are transformative. It unlocks new levels of self-awareness, purpose, and performance, allowing you to pursue goals you once believed were out of reach. Growth happens when you venture into the unknown, embrace discomfort, and resist the instinct to stay the same.
The key to overcoming homeostasis lies in embracing the plateau. These seemingly stagnant moments are where your body and mind quietly adapt, internalize skills, and lay the groundwork for future breakthroughs. The plateau isn’t a sign of failure—it’s a vital stage of the process.
Success in high performance, whether in golf or life, comes down to persistence: showing up daily, putting in deliberate effort, and practicing unwavering patience. True progress doesn’t come from giant leaps; it comes from small, consistent steps.
As we move forward in 2025, remember that extraordinary results are built incrementally—one iota at a time. Stay focused, embrace the journey, and trust that the breakthroughs will come.
References
Allen, L. (2023, September 13). New Year’s Resolutions Statistics and Trends [2023]. Www.driveresearch.com. https://www.driveresearch.com/market-research-company-blog/new-years-resolutions-statistics/
Leonard, G. (1991). Mastery : the keys to success and long-term fulfillment. Plume.
Leonard, G., & Murphy, M. (1995). The life we are given : a long-term program for realizing the potential of body, mind, heart, and soul. Jeremy P. Tarcher/Penguin.
Stulberg, B., & Magness, S. (2017). Peak performance : elevate your game, avoid burnout, and thrive with the new science of success. Rodale Books.