First law of motion states that an object in motion stays in motion unless acted upon by an external force. The same principle applies to relationships. A relationship that maintains consistent forward movement tends to continue thriving, while one at rest tends to stay stagnant.

The Initial Push

Starting a relationship requires significant energy. Like pushing a heavy object from a standstill, the beginning demands effort, courage, and intentionality. You initiate conversations. You plan dates. You invest time learning about each other. This initial push creates momentum.

Once that momentum builds, maintaining the relationship becomes easier. The habits form. The connection deepens. The relationship moves forward with less conscious effort because you’ve established a pattern of motion.

Friction Forces

Every moving object experiences friction that gradually slows it down. In relationships, friction appears as routine, familiarity, and the demands of daily life. Work stress acts as friction. Financial pressures create drag. Unresolved conflicts add resistance.

Without periodic inputs of energy to counteract this friction, even relationships with strong initial momentum eventually slow to a stop. This is why relationships require ongoing effort. The question is not whether friction exists, but whether you’re applying enough force to overcome it.

External Forces

Sometimes external forces act on your relationship with sudden impact. A job loss. A health crisis. A family emergency. A geographical move. These forces can dramatically alter your relationship’s trajectory, either pushing you closer together or pulling you apart.

The momentum you’ve built beforehand determines how well you withstand these external shocks. A relationship with strong forward momentum has resilience. It can absorb impact and continue moving. A relationship barely moving forward may stop completely when hit by unexpected force.

Maintaining Motion

Maintaining momentum doesn’t require constant grand gestures. Small, consistent efforts compound over time. A daily check-in. A weekly date. Monthly conversations about your relationship’s direction. These small forces add up, keeping your relationship moving forward against the natural friction of life.

The key insight from physics is that it’s easier to keep something moving than to restart it after it stops. Once a relationship loses all momentum and reaches complete rest, restarting requires that same enormous initial energy all over again. Sometimes even more, because now you’re also overcoming inertia of established separation.

The Direction Matters

Momentum has both speed and direction. A relationship moving fast in the wrong direction is not healthy momentum. You might be very busy together, very active, but heading toward incompatibility or resentment. Periodic reassessment ensures your momentum carries you toward shared goals and mutual growth.

The most successful relationships maintain steady momentum in an aligned direction. Not necessarily fast. Not without friction. But consistently moving forward, together, with enough energy to overcome the resistance that all relationships naturally face.