Momentum – an Exercise in Human Potential

Ever feel like you are in a rut? There is just not an ounce of motivation left in your body? Sometimes it lasts for hours, or even a few days – and it happens to the best of us.

What about the other side of the coin? Ever feel on a roll? There is just nothing in your way that could slow you down? You feel as if you are on top of the world and the stars are aligning for you? This is momentum – and it is much more useful than most people realize.

Let’s create a character called Joe. Now Joe is faced with many challenges in the near future, say University exams, qualifying runs for a track meet, selling his home and even a possible career change. If Joe makes it through the first half of his challenges successfully, what does that do for Joe?

• Increased confidence
• Focused on successful execution
• Positive personality traits emerge
• External perception improves
• Increased energy levels from enthusiasm
• Time freed up for newer challenges
• Limits tested
• Lessons learned

What I have come to notice, is that all of the traits that emerge from a little momentum, place the subject in a better position to continue to succeed at overcoming a greater number or more difficult challenges. What I mean is, lets say Joe passes all of his University exams and the track meet, then if you look at the 8 points I put up above – they ALL increase slightly. The result is that Joe will now have a more favourable set of circumstances to complete the next challenges with. If many of these effects are short lived, doesn’t it stand to reason that the best time for Joe to take on a new and great challenge would be right after he succeeded at the last?

I ask myself if it makes sense to structure one’s objectives in peaks and valleys over time, with planned rest/vacation during the valleys and slightly higher peaks as time goes on. This type of structure would not only provide the benefits of structure, defined SMART objectives, and vacation (recharging of the battery), but it would also allow one to reap the benefits of momentum as listed above. These benefits would not only increase your probability of success, but it also allows you to improve upon that probability and ability time and time again. This type of regimen would be similar in principle to how a person trains their physical body = with an approach that aims to test limits and then improve upon them – using all the synergies of structured diet, rest and exercise. Momentum provides for many, perhaps less obvious synergies, that could very well stand to help individuals achieve great accomplishments.

After writing this blog, I will find a yearly calendar and write down all of my goals in the margin. After this, I will plan them out in peaks and valleys throughout the year (perhaps 4-6 of each with 2-3 month rises in objectives). I will consciously make my goals slightly more aggressive, and even daunting to some extent – just make sure I am continuously challenging myself.

For more readings, research SMART objectives, and maybe even the benefit of Vacation/Rest time.

All the best,

MVE