Building momentum is like riding a bike

When I have a goal or project, I imagine myself riding a bike.

When I ride a bike, I'm in charge of pedaling the wheels. I keep looking ahead, and maybe a little bit to either side. But if I look backwards, not only might I swerve, I'll probably stop pedaling as well.

Keep pedaling the bike

If I stop pedaling, I stop creating possibilities.

Everything we do has creative power and is filled with objective meaning. If we turn around to check on what we've created, we stop planting the seeds of future synchronicities.

When a future synchronicity lands on your doorstep, it will have been your actions today that planted the seed.

So don't worry about the results of your actions! Just keep taking inspired action. Keep pedaling the bicycle.

Focus on forward flow

You plant seeds by focusing on what's in front of you.

For example, I just submitted a research article to a website for public feedback. After two long years of work, I was anxious to get it up there!

So I was tempted to keep checking the publication status on the website. Was it posted yet?

That would be like looking backwards on the bicycle, to see where I had come from.

Instead, I decided to reread the paper. I noticed some minor corrections needed. As I got farther, I realized they were actually important changes!

Be ready!

Because of my head start, when the paper finally went live the next day I was ready to submit my corrections right away.

My experience was one of flow. Rather than pausing to look back, I focused on getting my next step ready. And the timing worked out perfectly!

Practice

Notice if there is anything that causes you to check your email inbox repeatedly.

Try this: instead of checking your inbox, plant seeds. Identify a different activity which reflects your desired outcome. In the face of uncertainty, keep moving the ball forward any way you can!