Motivation or Momentum?
February has come and gone. It might sound like a very old-person type of thing to say, but this year is flying!
If you have been reading since the start of the year, you would know that we have been thinking a lot about finding a sustainable rhythm and gaining traction on the most important things in the midst of all the rush. Last week Shinell shared some thoughts on how paying attention to the small things in her life has helped her start to sustain a better rhythm. In case you missed it read it here.
Given that we are still in the first quarter of 2023, a lot of the conversations we are having with clients are focused on the things they would like to achieve this year – often on a personal and collective level. Some of the conversations focus on things we need to keep doing, but much of the time there is more focus on things that need to change. And change, as we all know, can be a bastard.
Even though the status quo might be far from ideal, getting to where we want to be can seem so overwhelming that we often choose to remain where we are. The devil we know, right? We have the best of intentions to make the shift, to take the steps, but very often the motivation and willpower eludes us. A year from now we look back and find ourselves in exactly the same position. Why?
I think we rely too much on motivation. “When I feel ready and motivated, then I will start.” We wait for the stars to align and for the perfect situation to present itself before we take the first step. We have the plan, we know the steps we should take – now we just need to summon the energy to get cracking. And that is often where it stalls…
Before you abandon all hope, consider this: Taking positive action gives you energy. Read that again.
Since I’ve been recovering from my injury I have been spending more time on my bicycle than usual. Last week I spent my time cycling listening to a podcast by Dr Andrew Huberman where he interviewed Jocko Willink, a retired Navy SEAL. In their marathon conversation they covered a host of topics, but one thing that stood out was their perspective on momentum. Teams that win have a tendency to keep on winning – almost like it becomes a habit. Losing is the same. They approached the topic from a number of angles, but Huberman (an eminent neuroscientist) spoke about the brain chemistry that kicks in when we start taking action towards an important goal. Essentially, when we DO something to move us closer to the goal our brain notices and says “Yes, more of that.” A bunch of chemicals are released and we feel energised to repeat the behaviour. We feel better, both mentally and physically, which enhances the chances of us doing it again. We gain a small bit of confidence and a subtle signal of “do that again.” The first bit of momentum.
So what?
The point is this: don’t intend to do something and wait for motivation. Actually do something and gain momentum. Don’t wait for the stars to align – rather do the workout, make the call, send the email, delete the app, book the meeting, read the first page of the book, pick up the guitar. Whatever it is for you – just do something. The motivation to keep going, in the form of momentum, will follow.
I’ll say it again: Taking positive action gives you energy. Will you be successful immediately? Of course not – but at least you know what it feels like to try. And that’s a much better feeling than not trying at all and then failing.
There you go! Like always, thanks a lot for reading. We hope you take some positive action this weekend. Please share with anyone you think could benefit from what we have shared. Take care!
PS. We’ve partnered with a qualified movement and nutrition expert to put together a comprehensive Wellness Day offering for businesses and teams. You can find more by clicking HERE or email us for more info.
At PurposeWorks we are all about Making You and Your Work Rock. Our focus is on Organisational Health and Design, Employee Centered Culture, Leadership Development and Performance Coaching. For more information on how we can help you create a work environment that rocks, develop a great team, become an inspiring leader or unlock your personal excellence talk to us at info@purposeworks.co.za.
