There’s never a time when we’ll say, “Now’s a good time for some misfortune.” It just happens, and sometimes all at once. And there’s only one response. Build momentum. But how?
Try to improve your momentum, not circumstances you can’t control.
There’s nothing more frustrating than trying to change what can’t be changed. Even if you don’t try to change the unchangeable, the mere desire to change it is miserable. And worse yet, focusing on it comes at the cost of focusing on things you can improve right now.
Fix this one thing, and you will see a huge improvement in your personal growth, quality of life, and general happiness. This is one of the biggest lessons I’ve learned from writing The Magic of Momentum and acting on the four principles of momentum.
I’ve stopped wishing that things were different, or that my luck was better. Instead, especially when I feel bad about something, I ask myself how I can create positive momentum right now. It takes my mind off of frustrating things and helps me move forward in ways I can and can’t yet see. This year has been confusing for me, because circumstances I can’t control have been awful, but I feel content in the present and excited for the future.
- We underestimate what momentum in one area can do for many other areas. The ripples of momentum are incalculable!
- We overestimate the usefulness of focusing on problems. It’s often useless and harmful to do so.
Fixing this doesn’t mean you won’t still get frustrated. It doesn’t mean you won’t ever feel sad or mad about circumstances beyond your control. It just means that you’ll be able to navigate it well instead of poorly.
Focus on the four principles of momentum over circumstances, goals, and milestones. You won’t regret it. You can learn about the four principles in The Magic of Momentum, which is so far the highest rated book I’ve ever written. As one reviewer said, “This stuff just works.”
