Human Statues
In order to get anywhere – either literally or metaphorically – we need to create and maintain a certain level of momentum. Sitting in your very-capable Porsche won’t get you anywhere unless you choose to start the engine, engage a gear (or six), steer the car and operate the pedals. In my time as a life coach, trainer and teacher I’ve encountered many people who have 
not only been sitting in their Porsche for decades, but they’ve never even opened the garage door! Such a massive waste of talent, power and time. The person who doesn’t find a way to create momentum is the person who won’t realise their dreams, move forward or explore their potential. Sadly, some people will spend their lives sitting in neutral, almost doing something but never really doing anything significant. Talent, opportunities, ideas and even brilliance will amount to nothing if we fail to create and maintain momentum. Consider the person in your life (past or present) who is/was always talking about their grand plans for greatness, success and change in their world. You know; the one who is great at the theory (the talking bit) but not so good at the practical (the doing bit).
Here’s some momentum-creating suggestions that work… if you work.
1. Take that first step and keep stepping. As anyone with a basic understanding of physics will tell you, maintaining momentum is significantly easier than creating it. The first step is both the scariest and the most empowering. It’s also the most important. Procrastination is the enemy of potential, the refuge of the weak and a synonym for fear. The vast majority of people who take that long-overdue first step usually say something very predictable like “I wish I had done this years ago” or “I don’t know what I was so afraid of”. Get your potential out of neutral, engage a gear, hit the gas and don’t look back. Everything after the first step is a blessing or a lesson.
2. Consider the cost of not changing. Imagine your life in five or ten years from now if you don’t change, if you don’t address the things you should and if you don’t pursue your dreams. Right now picture yourself being ten years older; you still haven’t made a significant decision, still haven’t taken that chance, still haven’t taken charge of your body, you’re still talking too much and doing too little, still coughing up the endless excuses, still being controlled by people and circumstances and still wasting your potential. Do you like that picture? Change is rarely about the right time and usually about the right attitude, choices and behaviours. Sometimes picturing what we don’t want is enough to get us moving in the right direction.
3. Gain some clarity and certainty. Get clear about what you want and don’t want for your life. Stop going through the motions and stop living that repetitive existence of habit – the one that makes you miserable and the one you really don’t want. The more certain you are about what you want, the easier it will be to stay focused, proactive and productive. If you don’t have clarity, then do your best to de-clutter your mind, step back, gain some perspective, spend more time by yourself, stop being so ‘busy’ (even for a day) and listen to that still small voice; it knows. When we make the effort to find some space, time and quiet and then genuinely listen, the clarity will come. The tricky bit can be when we find that clarity (about what we need to do) and it scares the crap out of us. When this happens, refer to point one!
4. Get excited. Excitement creates momentum. When we’re excited we do stuff. We overcome fears. We take chances. We make tough decisions. We push the boundaries. We explore our potential. We become solution-focused. We become more resourceful. Chat with any successful person about their goals and their passion and you’ll see what I mean about excitement. If you’re not excited (on some level) about your goals, then you may need to find some different ones.
5. Set deadlines. Set yourself some non-negotiable deadlines and make a public (or semi-public) declaration. Not everyone’s cup of tea but works well for many. Sometimes we’ve gotta put our butt on the line to create some real momentum. Don’t be scared of pressure, discomfort or deadlines; they can make all the difference and they can be your greatest teacher. By the way, I’m not suggesting that you do this some time in the future when it suits your schedule and the planets have aligned, I’m suggesting that you do it in the next five minutes.
Bossy I know.
Let me know your secrets for creating and maintaining momentum. What works for you? Do tell…. and as always, feel free to share a general comment or say hi. If you’re not sure how to do the comment thing, click here.
Seeyuz x
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{ 21 comments… read them below or add one }
Hi Craig,
OMG you been spying again…I came so close to not going for my walk tonight. Seriously considered calling Bev and saying I wasn’t coming. We had an incident the other night and our other walker Heather wound up injured (long story involving a dog getting hit by a car and uneven footpaths!) Anyway I walked and boy do I feel so much better. All the way around we were both saying we are so glad we did it.
Thanks I love the momentum thing…it really hits home for me.
Hugs
Chelle xxx
* Hang around successful people. Join clubs/groups where you’re going to be constantly mixing with people who are doing what you want to be doing.
* Live and breathe your goals and the new-and-improved version of you. Look at those non-negotiables as if they were water or oxygen – something your body needs to function. (Or, if you’re a petrol head, if their ain’t any fuel in your car or motorbike then you wont be going anywhere).
* Find a way to formally commit to your goals. If it’s to finish a marathon, ENTER the event as soon as you can (on first day entries open).
* Read about successful people. Autobiographies are fantastic. They contain gems. (How’s that autobiography coming along, Craig? Nearly finished? “The life of a confessed cheesecake-a-holic: The first 45 years.” When can I pre-order my signed copy?)
Time to switch from the 95% ethanol crap fuel in your car (your head/your life) to the 100% premium high quality stuff. It’s more ‘expensive’ but it’s so much better for your car (your head).
No. 2 is a technique that I use (and have relied on in the past) to make big decisions, as well as create momentum. When faced with a crossroads, I try to imagine how I will feel 5 yrs down the track of each path .. and what I’ve found is that I’m the kind of person who would rather regret something I’ve tried that hasn’t worked out, rather than look back and wonder “what if”.
A few things that help me to create and maintain momentum are:
- Visualise the result. Constantly picture yourself as you will be once you’ve achieved your goal. Call it daydreaming, if you like.
- Belief in yourself. I have absolutely no doubt that I have the capability to achieve anything I set my mind to, and I also believe (through past experience now) that I have the tenacity and commitment to do what it takes.
- Constantly remind myself how much I want it (the outcome). It’s conscious in my mind always, so it shapes my behaviour and choices all through the day.
- View it as a process. This removes a lot of the emotion and allows me to focus simply on what I CAN do and what I HAVE to do. It also keeps me more focussed on the “now” – no point worrying about things that I can’t impact right now.
- Ego plays a part. I like the idea of either positive feedback about what I’ve achieved and my strength of character to do it, or to prove to the nay-sayers that they were wrong.
Achieving outcomes, having belief in my abilities and sucking it up and just doing what’s required doesn’t faze me. No, my challenges in this life come from another area. And this can result in my never quite achieving my goal (never quite finishing what I start) or self-sabotaging. But I’m working on it.
Suz (Sydney)
As someone who suffered for years from a lack of momentum, I have finally given in and accepted that I need external help to keep momentum going (such as Craig’s blog!).
There is so much cool stuff available on the net. One of my favourite tricks is to find free mp3 files of inspiring people and download them to my mp3 player and listen when i am walking or hanging the washing. It changed my life to have that source of constant motivation outside of my own head. Of course i have been doing it for a while now and have begun to establish my own habits for creating and maintaining momentum in daily life.
Accountability partners are a great way to stay on track. I wish I had one!!
A great post Craig. Do you think that routine is essential? I’m beginning to think it is. Flexibility is good but boundaries work better until the habit and momentum is formed.
Does anyone know of a meditation group around Melbourne S/E suburbs??
mmmm… Consider the cost of not changing… I think I like that one. Very nicely put.
Ouch, ouch, very uncomfortable. Think I needed that.
Hello Craig,
I really loved Jules blog….
I'm doing something for myself that I have always wanted to do, the only hurdle I stumble with is confidence, so how do you repair & build on this because I have people around me constantly telling me that I lack big time in this area but give me know tools to improve..
I do realise it's a mind set issue however when you have had your confidence destroyed over many years I must admit I find it hard to know where to start.
I'm not scared of pressure, & can be strong enough to be uncomfortable but just have know idea where to start..
Thanks great article.
Charlotte.xxx
I sign up for things. Once I’m signed up, I then have to do it. I first signed up for a boot camp 3 years ago and lost 4kg, and learned how to run 2kms. Then I signed up for the run for the kids, lost another 4kg, and ran 15km. Then, I signed up to weight watchers and lost a bit more weight. And so it went on – I’m up to 21kg and at a healthy weight. I find short term thinking is better for me. Before I know it, I then have a new good habit or a new skill or a new goal.
I find if I don’t have something to aim for, or look forward to, I can get a bit stuck. And a bit lazy. Then I start to get slacker, and the jeans get tighter.
My current challenge is enjoying it while I’m doing it and finding a balance. Sometimes training is just friggin hard work for me and I don’t always get a sense of achievement out of it. However, because I feel so crap when I *don’t* exercise, I make myself do it even when I hate it because usually, I’ll feel better afterwards.
Miss Jojo xxx
PS Jaine – there are heaps of good medidation things around. Gracy’s cafe in Aspendale used to run one on Monday nights. There’s a yoga and meditation studio in Parkdale just near the railway station, and one runs out of Parkdale yacht club as well. My favourite yoga teacher, Paula, runs yoga with a meditation session at the end of each class in Station St Chelsea a couple of times a week. Good luck.
Miss Jojo
[This is mainly for Charlotte - I hope it's okay that I'm replying with this long'ish comment]
Thanks Charlotte. You are definitely not alone with the confidence thing. Craig frequently says that we get in our own way (a lot). How much do you swear and complain when you come across weekend or night road works and you NEED to get somewhere by a certain time? Those ‘lollipop’ blokes and chicks with their stop/slow sign are mega annoying aren’t they? “Get out of my way” you yell in your head. Imagine a million of those traffic controllers with STOP facing your way, blocking all traffic in both directions. All one million of them are YOU. Yep – you are blocking your own way. Once we get out of our own way, the road will be clear and we can create our own AMAZING life.
Take a big deep breath and do what scares you. It’s only when you face those long-standing fears that you will grow and become all you want to be. Whatever it is that scares you know that you wont be AMAZING on attempt number 1. But no one expects you to be. It’s a process. But you gotta start. Then, keep going. And trust yourself that you will get better (at whatever it is) in time. I’ve struggled with low confidence for years. The better (or worse) part of two decades, easy.
One tip from me to you: YOU need to be in control. YOU need to CREATE the situations and circumstances that will enable you to open your wings and fly and overcome your confidence issues.
What is it that you are doing for yourself now? I want to encourage you… coz next week I’m going need tons of encouragement. I’ll be starting my graduate paramedic job. Am I scared and anxious? Of course… But being scared is a choice (I think?). Remind yourself how much you want to be doing this thing and fast forward in time 3,6 and 12 months. How will you feel then when you are LIVING THE DREAM? And, being good at what you do because you’ve put in the hard work and persevered with it through thick and thin.
I hope that helps a teeny weeny bit. Maybe you’re focusing too much on ‘where to start’?
Maybe you could do a post about confidence soon’ish, Craig?
Jules (Brisbane – for another 24 hours)
Hi Craig, long time no comment from me, good to see ya still going hot! I still catch up on you’re blogs when I can.
With this question what can work for me is when I shut up, tell limited (if any) people about my ‘plans’ and just do what I know is required. I may join a club or group, but think it’s best to work on making friendships/having fun/learning new stuff or improving purposeable skills/being of practical help to others rather than keep announcing/pleading ‘plans/ideas’ to others as hard as that can be for me! But if I can shut up (mostly) about my ‘plans or past excuse stories’ then let people see for themselves the results or tell others when something is achieved that rocks!
To Charlotte and others, Although Steve Pavlina has become a bit weird for a conservative old engineer like me, his recent post on “Leveling Up” has an interesting take on what we often call lack of confidence or lack of personal resources.
http://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/2009/03/leveling-up/
He is a bit verbose and Jules (Brisbane) has virtually said all Steve says in a fraction of the space, but I found the article a worthwhile read.
To Jaine,
Not too sure about a meditaion group in the south east suburbs but I am in Rowville and could be an accountability partner for you if you really want one. Let me know through here and I will give you my email details…or you could click on my name and get them from my blog.
Chelle
G’day Kids
Sorry for being a little scarce with the comment responses lately – been flat out like a lizard drinking….
I’m still reading them all… I’ll be back on deck tomorrow.
( )
Hi Michelle. That is very kind of you. I really appreciate the offer. Since writing my comment i have ‘found’ someone who is helping me enormously. I read your blog. It’s terrific and congrats on your weight loss. You don’t live far from me! I am in Mulgrave.
Miss JoJo – thanks for the info. What is the name of the place in Chelsea. It sounds interesting.
Charlotte – where do you live? I have met the most awesome Hypnotherapist who has helped me enormously with self confidence and procrastination issues. Finding out when and how these attitudes manifested is incredibly powerful. I feel like a new person. This guy is a real professional and is passionate about hypnotism and the subconcious mind.
thks, sreeman, CRAIG, ur blogs, mails r the best in self development.they r universaly GOOD. WISH MORE US citizens , see, digest, PRACTICE…. TO THEIR BEST, FOR BETTER DAYS/PROSPERITY.what is spl about ur writings, they r pragmatic, physically, mentaly, spiritually.U r a universal GURU, WITH LEAST, EXPECTATION, OF ROI.MAY LORDS BLESS U, BYE
Hello Jules,
Thank you so much for that your so right!!!!
I have been focussing on where to start, great tip, I am going to overcome this confidence issue I have…
Really needed that positive feedback, also thank you anonymous for the resourse really appreciate it.
thanks again,
Charlotte xx
Have to work on #5!
Great post!
Hi Craig,how about the ones who want to restart their life but don’t know how? Aprox 3 years ago I fell into a burn out situation which I didn’t see coming. Always being a career minded person, energetic and a health fanatic. Having to give up my job losing my health and my dreams made me feel completely lost. I’ve had to learn to accept and manage my issues so that I feel like I am starting to live again. I really want to restart my life and be the person I once was(with a career/fit and healthy)but I just don’t know how anymore or where to start.
Great posting! It is so easy to sit on the sidelines satisfied (or unsatisfied as some cases go) with your current position in life. I enjoyed your step by step approach.