Whether you are feeling stuck or you’re on a roll, you’ve got some momentum going.  Think of it as a culmination of the energy of the past placing you where you are in the present. After all, you are not in this place at this time by accident!

Sometimes that is easier to accept when we are in the flow and things are going good.  But it is true nonetheless even when it doesn’t feel like it.  

How can you have momentum when you are stuck? 

You have momentum of thought, action, belief and emotion that keep you where you are.  Momentum to stay put! Imagine your car being stuck in the mud.  It takes a lot of effort to break it free.   

If you have ever been depressed or had a ‘down’ day, you know how easy it can be to stay there.  Until an equal or greater than energy comes along that moves you. 

Sometimes that can be as simple as the warmth of the sun after a dismal weather pattern, a call from a friend or listening to music that gets your mojo running. 

And sometimes you need the tow truck with a double chain to pull you out of the mud!

You might even get so used to being in the mud, you don’t think you’ll ever get out… or that there isn’t anything out there but mud!

If things are going well, great!! It’s much easier to keep the momentum going when it’s in the right direction. 

If you want to shift things, here are a few suggestions to help…

1. THOUGHT

Remember the glass half full or half empty is in your head. They look the same! Change your perception and look at things from a different vantage point. If what you are thinking about makes you feel bad, why are you thinking it? Does thinking about it helping you resolve it? Or get you more stuck?

Can’t break the pattern? When habitual negative thinking pops into your head, confuse your automatic pilot by choosing a code word that is COMPLETELY unrelated to the negative thinking. Every time you are starting to head down that slippery slope, interrupt the pattern with your code word. This is especially effective if your word triggers a memory or your senses. A word like ‘popcorn’ is a great example because you can see it, taste it, smell it, feel it or trigger the memory of a positive experience.

2. ACTION

Set small positive goals and work towards them. This will help you feel like you are moving forward and making some progress. Try clearing an area of clutter or reorganizing for a fresh new view. Make a list of 2 or 3 things and notice how good it feels to cross them off the list when you’re done. Do daily.

A cautionary note: Don’t pick tasks that are daunting or overwhelming. Chunk them down into smaller tasks. If your whole house needs cleaning or decluttering, pick a corner or a drawer or a countertop. Make your list something manageable and something you will feel good about completing. 

3. BELIEF

A belief is just a thought that somewhere along the line you have accepted as truth. Often it is a something you have thought over and over again until it really sinks in. We also take on beliefs from our tribe—our parents, our friends, our culture or society. Many of our beliefs come from our early years, when we were forming our ideas about the world and our place in it. Beliefs are stored in the unconscious and can be a little tricky because you might not be aware of them. It’s hard to change something you are not aware of. You might need some help with beliefs, and the good news is that there are a number of very effective therapies that can help.

But you can start by paying attention. Watch for negative or limiting beliefs about yourself and your world. Ask yourself if they are true? How do you know? Are they true 100% of the time? Do they support you positively or hold you back in some way? What else is possible? Can you believe it? Let the positive possibility become your new mantra.

4. EMOTION

Allow yourself to feel your emotions, even when they don’t feel good. When you are truly feeling the emotion, its intensity dissipates rather quickly. When you are thinking about how you feel, you’re not feeling. Remember to breathe deeply while you are feeling the difficult ones, it helps to process. Sighing helps release pent up energy and so do tears and laughter.

Avoiding emotion does not mean it is not there. Emotions that are not felt are stored in the unconscious and can surface at the most inconvenient times! You might need to pull some weeds in your emotional garden. This is especially true if your emotional reaction is out of proportion to the situation. Overreaction is an indicator that there are unresolved emotions lurking in the depths. It can get pretty heavy carrying all that emotional baggage around all the time. You may need some help to release it.

 
Remember, you just need a little bit of momentum to keep the ball rolling in the right direction.

Celebrate your small success because they lead to bigger ones. Feel gratitude every chance you can.  Spend some time doing things that uplift you. 
Once the ball starts rolling, it gets easier and easier.