Cultivate the 5 seeds of Big Potential says Shawn Achor.
Seed #5: Sustain the Gains:
Creating collective momentum
Newton’s Law “An object at rest stays at rest and an object in motion stays in motion with the same speed and in the same direction unless acted upon by an unbalanced force.”
You are working steadily on writing an editorial (object is in motion). Suddenly there are distractions like your dog barking to be let out, and interruptions like your toddler crying for a hug (unbalanced forces acting in the opposite direction). Life friction slows you down. Inertia sets in and you lose the impetus to keep working (object is at rest).
Then a friend calls and you begin to share your ideas about the editorial, you hear the excitement and you get charged with renewed energy (object is in motion again). A positive force acting in the same direction pushes you back into motion. You are motivated to complete your editorial. As you are moving forward, the friend is magnetically drawn in and inspired to reach for her own big potential. It is a win-win and collective momentum is created.
Strategies:
1) Generate positiveenergy by creating meaning
When you introduce yourself it is easy to state your work title or duty, “I am an engineer”, or “I am just a housewife.” Listen to the dull tone. It makes the other lose interest and reluctant to engage further. If you give a meaning response “I design mattress springs to give people optimal sleep for their overall health”, you connect with the meaning of your work! “I execute the smooth running of our entire household, manage our finances and social and personal lives.” You recognize the value of your role! Listen to the enthusiasm. It makes the other interested and curious.
Tell others why you do what you do and how you do it. Meaning is that positive force that propels you. “You create a verbal meaning tour!”
2) Use vivid direction for that energy to flow
Use active visualization to design a vivid picture with details. Create a visual narrative. These words need to feel real to you and be relatable to others. Details define your path clearly with obstacles and resources. Strong mental imagery is a powerful tool to keep moving forward. When you see your best possible future self, you are reaching for your North Star!
Think about your ‘success routes’ instead of ‘escape routes’. Dress rehearse a future success, instead of a future tragedy. Brené Brown cautions us, “If you cannot tolerate joy, what you do is you start dress rehearsing tragedy.” The mind only goes in the direction you take it. So focus on a positive outcome. Ask others around you what they see in your work. Include others in your visualization, dress rehearse success with family, friends and colleagues. “Action is not driven by the past but pulled by the future”, Martin Seligman.
3) Accelerate the momentum through celebration
Man is a social animal, so it is vital to celebrate your success as a collective win. “Our feasts need to be as sacred as our fasts.” Celebrate the small wins.
List 3 things others have done for you. Then decide if you want to give back or pay it forward. Even more powerful is thinking when you were generous to others. Mental image of yourself as a generous person will strengthen the tendency to act on it. What the brain notices gets reinforced.
Celebrate meaning, strengths and accomplishments.
“Celebration is the oxygen of big potential.” To sustain the momentum you have to keep fueling it. Like a race car taking a pit stop to refuel and change tires. Recharging ourselves with celebrations keeps us moving forward. It becomes a virtuous cycle.
As Achor says, “Big Potential is a moving target not a destination!”