Momentum. We see it everywhere. In sports, for example, momentum is really noticeable. I’m a fan of single-player sports, such as tennis, golf, and snooker. What I’ve realised makes watching these sports so intriguing is the role momentum plays in how the match plays out.
There are countless examples. One player is dominant and looks untouchable; you think, “It’s a done deal; they’re going to win.” Then, out of nowhere, the tables turn, and the dominant one is on the back foot, as the opponent starts building in confidence. It’s awful to see. The once domineering player becomes totally discombobulated. “I had this,” you can see them thinking, “What’s happening?!!”
Sport, of course, is just a microcosm of life. Momentum plays a big part in every aspect of our lives, whether we know it or not. Think about a time you did something you’re proud of. Chances are, it wasn’t easy. Achievements rarely are. I bet it took perseverance, determination, bloody-mindedness, and the rest. What kept you going? Momentum.
I have these two quotes written above my desk:
“Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it”
Goethe
“The moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves too”
W.H. Murray
They’re both about momentum.
Really, it means this: When you start doing something, it creates energy that carries you on.
Here’s the thing: Most of us don’t start things. Okay, we move house, we find new jobs, we do the stuff to get by, but often, we don’t dream big enough. Why? Because we fool ourselves into thinking it’s too big, too bold. But as Goethe says, “boldness has genius, power and magic” in it. In other words, when you take something on that is bold, you get a helping hand. “Providence” moves too, as W.H. Murray says.
Think of it like a computer game. You start on your quest to take the ring to Mount Doom in Mordor, and it feels like a completely impossible task. But you find energy along the way. Frodo in Lord of the Rings got lots of help, didn’t he.
I have these two quotes above my desk to remind me that I’m capable of doing more than my lizard brain thinks.
I can speak from experience. This is exactly what happened to me over the last few years. I took on a ridiculously big goal (more on that in another post) that I didn’t think I could pull off until I did.
So, know this: there are energy “top-ups” along the way that will keep you going. So dream big, and don’t let those gremlins in your head convince you otherwise.