When you find yourself frustrated about your lack of movement in the direction you desire, consider whether you are moving due to momentum or due to intention. Acknowledge that you are taking action, but then ask yourself, “what is moving me?”
Because momentum can often cause us to move in an automated fashion, clarifying what you are doing and what is causing this movement can be difficult. It may help to take a piece of paper and draw three columns. At the top of the paper, above the columns, write your overall intention. Then, in the left hand column, list what actions you are taking. In the center column, across from each action, write what is compelling you to take that action. Some answers here could include routine, commitment to XYZ, habit, job duties, strategic plan, or any number of things. In the right hand column, answer the question “does this action align with my intention?” Write yes or no.
After completing this exercise, you should have a clear picture of whether you are moving from momentum or intentions – or a combination. Note that if you are acting out of intention, you may have created momentum around that intention to help move you forward. If the momentum that moves you supports your intention, congratulations. You are in great shape.
However, if momentum is moving you and it does not align with your intentions, it is time to make some changes.
While momentum can make motion difficult to change, it can be done. Just as in the physical world, we can do this in at least three ways: 1) reduce or eliminate the force, 2) change the mass of the object in motion (for this analogy, the object is your effort), or 3) shift the course to allow the momentum to carry you in the direction you want. Let’s look at these strategies a bit closer:
Reduce or Eliminate the Force
When you know you are acting out of momentum that does not support your intentions, it can still be difficult to change. The movement is habitual. It is engrained in you. Your mode of operation supports and is supported by this momentum. However, by creating awareness about the various actions you are taking and why, you can begin to pick and choose how you use your time. As begin to say no to some things that do not align with your intentions, you will reduce the force propelling your momentum.
Change the Mass of the Object in Motion
If the forces are difficult to change, you can try changing the mass, or the amount of effort you make available to this momentum. To do this, you must create structures in your life to either limit time available to this consuming momentum, or make additional time available so that the power of the force is reduced against the amount of time you have. For example, if you are a working mother who only has an hour of downtime each evening, you may intend to start a yoga practice in that time. However, you may find that your commitment to your relationships causes you to spend that time talking to your spouse rather than doing yoga. If you are able to extend that time period, perhaps by moving the kids’ bedtime a half hour earlier, then you may find that the force of that social time with your spouse no longer overrides your ability to follow through with your intentions and you can do both.
Shift the Course to Allow the Momentum to Carry You Where You Want to Go
Momentum can be very good… when it aligns with our intentions. So, quashing momentum is not always the right answer. Sometimes shifting it is all you need to do to continue moving forward, but on the right track. You can do this in a number of ways. For example, rather than focusing on what current actions you want to say no to, you can clarify what action you want to be taking to align with your intention and say “yes” to that. If you have created a clear awareness of your outdated momentum, sometimes this is all you need to do to create the shift. Or, you can tweak what you are currently doing to better align with your goals. For example, perhaps one of your core values is connection with others so the momentum of the day often pushes you toward facebook or chatting with co-workers. You can meet that need by scheduling lunch dates and coffee meetings with people you need to engage with to move your mission forward, thus meeting your social needs and shifting your momentum to support your intention.
Coaching Application
When coaches find that their clients are frustrated because they are busy but not moving forward, they can consider whether their client is being driven by a momentum that is not in alignment with their intention. This may show up as frustration about a lack of progress, a sense of overwhelm with little sense of hope or satisfaction, judgmental beliefs about their inability to get things done or a sense of powerlessness, to name just a few.
To help them consider this perspective, the coach can help them clarify their desired intentions and then look at the action they are choosing and what is moving them to act that way. With that awareness, the client can determine if and how they are in alignment with their intention and begin taking steps to create momentum that supports their intention.
Coaches can also keep this tool in mind in their own practice. As coaches hone their niche, perfect their program or simply settle into a rhythm, they can easily create a momentum that, if left unchecked, could eventually differ from their intentions. For example, a new coach may take on as many clients as possible, charging relatively little while they gain experience. However, that approach to business development can become routine and their processes and procedures could support that approach. Eventually, however, they may feel they are working too hard, seeing too many clients, unable to really give each client as much focus as they’d like – and still not making the money they need to support their goals.
To stay true to our current intentions, it is essential for each of us – coaches and clients – to continually check in with our intentions and get clear on whether the momentum that is moving us is in alignment with those intentions.