A personal take - motivation, left to its own devices, can quickly fall prey to our emotions, other people, the weather (!!) and importantly our mammalian brain’s need for comfort.

If we allow ourselves to be led by a need for comfort first and foremost, we can miss out on fulfilling the challenges, goals and desires that are important for our continued growth and evolution.

The discomfort in question can feel like: awkwardness, a low-grade ‘ick’, resistance to certain tasks, a critical voice taking up space in your head, or running a mental list over and over about why the audacious vision, goal or important life event won’t work out.

Waiting until we are in the mood, or until everything is lined up perfectly is not a strategy for success or growth. I used to be such a sucker for it, until I realised this:

Instead of clinging to motivation when it arises and waiting for it to appear out of thin air, you’ve got to create momentum first.

Having a momentum first, motivation second mindset means we are not waiting around. We build momentum with small triggers and mini actions that edge us into the flow we need to get stuff done.

• The same desk environment that prompts us to write

• a particular time of day where we know we complete the hardest tasks

• a delicious ritual drink enjoyed as we begin important strategic work

• putting on a podcast while we restore the house to peace and visual calm every evening.

  ‘It’ looks different for us all, the important part is finding those little personal triggers that move you into flow. x