Time and time again, I’ve learned how powerful momentum is. Do not underestimate momentum. What i mean by this is: one simple habit or routine can be that energy that keeps the ball rolling in the right direction. Gives you a feeling of pride. Makes you feel accomplished. Gives you a sense of purpose. Just simply the feeling from ____ activity and what it can do for events to come. Momentum is everything.
You know as well as me, there are days where “motivation” is not present. You aren’t too fired up. You’re not hard charging or feeling like you can conqueror the day. Congratulations: you’re a normal human being. This is not a problem. Every day does not feel like we’re standing on the top of Mount Everest.
What do you do when you don’t feel like doing it? Do you skip breakfast because you aren’t “feeling it.” Do you skip morning cardio because you don’t “feel like doing it.” Do you not text your grandmother Good morning because you aren’t “feeling like it.” Do you not go to the grovery store and buy fresh food but instead eat mcdonalds because you arent “feeling like it.”
You get where I’m going here.
We’re emotional creatures. We rely lots of feelings. This is a beautiful part of us. the ability to feel is powerful. Its necessary. But it can be limiting from a personal development standpoint. We fall into the laziness category at one point. All of a sudden: we’re moving further and further away from activities that are going to make us better.
Personally: I’ve talked about swimming for 4-6 months. “I got to get into it some day.” Proceeding to talk about all the benefits and BS with people at the gym about it. “ya man, it would be great.” “Ya man, you can swim until the day you die.” All the reasoning behind it.
But are you going to do it?
Here is where momentum comes into place. I could feel this feeling in my stomach that knew the activity was uncomfortable. I was partially dreading the activity. I don’t know if the feeling came from it being a new activity, it being challenging, or a mixture of the both. All I knew was: I had ZERO motivation to attempt swimming. I finally sat down and wrote it down. I will swim. I will walk through the doors and put my stuff into the locker. I will wear my sandals into the pool area. I will take it slow at first and then swim harder. 20-30 minutes.
I went and did it.
And i did another session today.
Guess what? The challenge increased my motivation. I felt free like a dolphin in the water. It also increased my motivation because I felt this desire after to get better, faster, and better my form.
Momentum. We built it and now the ball is rolling.
Does it sound like I’m going to stop any time soon? Not after buying my monthly pass to a new gym with a pool and steam room, not after pushing myself and wanting to get better.
Momentum.
This is just one example. When we dig a little further past the “feeling stage” of physical training, we can sometimes be surprised. We build resilience when we do things like we don’t always feel like doing.
How else does this create momentum? Now I’m super charged leaving the pool. The chemical releases in my brain have me feeling higher than the clouds. I’m more likely to be higher energy for my tasks ahead. Motor functions are firing, and the day is a little less sluggish. Blood is PUMPIN.
Momentum.
You create it or forever be a statue.
the choice is yours.
THE_HUMAN_EXPERIMENT1993 