Want Momentum? Start Here.

A few days ago I returned from an extended vacation where I had the chance to recuperate, relax, and recharge.

That meant when I arrived home, I had to deal with the challenge we all occasionally face: how to build momentum… from zero.

During my vacation I was disconnected from my usual responsibilities and was forced to take it slow. How could I rev the engines up again and prepare for some pressing deadlines once I was back home?

I’ll admit, jetlag is a convenient excuse for delaying restarting routines. But this time I wondered: what can I learn about getting back into the swing of things? Is there anything I can do to make the change easier?

It turns out there was.

(Farm fields in Northern Denmark are simply stunning)

Lets take the gym, for starters. As I was adjusting to being home, I could have delayed signing up for a gym class for a few days. I could have waited until I was caught up on sleep and jetlag.

But as I stared at the App I use to schedule gym times, an interesting thought occurred:

“I’m the type of person who works out regularly.”

And so I scheduled a time for the next day… one that would push me. And it helped reset my focus.

When I looked at my suitcase, and clothes that needed the laundry… I felt an urge to put it off and deal with it later.

But the thought occurred to me:

“I’m the type of person who works best when things are sorted and (reasonably) organized.”

And so, I took the time to unpack, and immediately do the laundry. It felt refreshing to set the stage for the next few days.

(Have you ever felt nourished by trees? This is near where my wife grew up.)

Do you notice anything curious about these two sentences?

My mind didn’t say:

• I should work out.
• I should get organized.
• I should do the laundry.

My mind also didn’t say:

• Working out is a good idea.
• Getting unpacked and organized is the best thing to do.
• Doing the laundry is what a smart person would do right now.

Instead, my mind said:

I’m the type of person that…

Instead of making the behaviors outside and separate from me, I made the behaviors simply part of who I am as a person. They became part of my internal narrative.

And curiously, restarting and getting back to my normal routines felt A LOT easier than in the past.

Going to the gym was less difficult.

Putting away all the stuff…went faster.

And the laundry? Well to be honest I still keep losing more and more socks…

So how does this relate to success and influence?

When you have faced moments of change… like me… were there challenges that made it difficult to adjust?

Maybe you were “shoulding” yourself. “I should workout more.”

Maybe you were guilting yourself. “If I were a better organized person, I would clean up right now.”

The problem is, in addition to the obstacle of doing “THE THING”, these kinds of statements add yet another burden that is even heavier to carry: judgement and shame.

And I don’t know about you, but I’m tired of carrying that stuff around.

(My wife and I at Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen)

But have you ever experienced a time where you made an important change… a part of your internal narrative?

Did the change feel easier or harder?

We all face moments of change. And successful people are masters at dealing with change.

And when you make a new set of behaviors… part of your identity… then you can be a master at dealing with change too.

This week, instead of “shoulding” yourself into action — or guilting yourself for not being further ahead — try something different.

Tell yourself:

“I’m the kind of person who…”

You might be surprised how quickly momentum follows.

Christian

CHRISTIAN HANSEN has gone behind the scenes in some of the biggest organizations in the world to find out the reasons why some people get chosen and why others don’t. As the #1 bestselling and LinkedIn Top Ten ranked author of “The Influence Mindset: The Art & Science of Getting People to Choose You” Christian helps teams and organizations who want to stand out and be the obvious choice. With degrees from Brigham Young University and The London School of Economics, he’s helped thousands of individuals position and sell themselves. A fan of international communication, history, and choral music, he currently lives in Utah with his wife. Reach him at: TheChristianHansen.com