How do you get in gear? Do you have a secret for staying in motion? Why is it so important to maintain momentum?

Name practically anything in your life, and you’ll see that it requires some sustained energy to keep it going. The question is, how do you keep your mojo fired up?

If you’ve ever had to cram for an exam at the last minute, or pull an all-nighter on the eve of a deadline, you know that procrastinating until it’s time to sprint can be a recipe for disaster.

(however, when it comes to creative pursuits, there is something to be said for last-minute pressure. Some folks thrive on it, but personally I wouldn’t recommend.)

With mundane things like showing up for work, maintaining a movement practice, or learning a new skill or language, regular progress and forward motion are your friends.

Here’s one way to look at it. The flipside of momentum is rhythm. The best way to keep that flywheel turning is to give it a regular push. Daily, weekly, or monthly intervals are the most common, but you are free to dance to the beat of your own drummer.

For longer time-frames, solar or lunar cycles are nice. Some of the teachers I’ve coached have chosen to do their newsletters on the Full or New Moon, rather than a certain day of the week or month.

Rhythms can also be brief — when I’m working from home hunkered over my computer I’m called to stretch my legs every 20 minutes or so  because the LP on the turntable needs to be flipped.

You know that move people make when they’re rowing a boat? That’s the motion we make when we’re gently reminding each other not to miss a day of our stretching or drop the ball on our work.

That bliss that follows a good rest is only as good as the forward motion that follows. Your boat won’t move without your oar in the water so aim for your dreams and keep riding that rhythm!

Paddling ahead with you till next Monday, much love…

M+

Mark Metz
Director of the Dance First Association
Publisher of Conscious Dancer Magazine