Building Momentum

Earlier this week, I had the opportunity to reminisce with my father over some our favorite ranch experiences that I experienced in my formative years. Many of those memories revolved around our experiences rounding up the cattle herd for transport or medical treatment. Most cattle obediently and systematically entered the corrals and entered the squeeze chutes without much fuss. However, once in a while, a wild and rebellious cow would make life difficult for our herding party. On more than one occasion, I found myself perilously staring down a furious Hereford, hell-bent on smashing my head in.

Many years have passed, and thankfully my exposure to bloodthirsty bovines has decreased precipitously. Even so, I get an occasional opportunity to visit more docile cattle at the fair or a petting zoo. Without any fear or trepidation, approaching these animals has been a far more calming and pleasant experience.

On paper, not much separates the calm and docile cow from the wild and murderous cow. Both weigh an intimidating 1,600 pounds. Both have the same bone crushing body mass. So what makes the docile and motionless cow so different than the wild and unstoppable cow? The answer is momentum.

In the scientific world of physics, momentum is defined as the quantity of motion of a moving body, measured as a product of its mass and velocity. It is formulaically described as Momentum = Magnitude x Velocity. But outside the world of physics, momentum is one of the most powerful forces we have at our disposal. Momentum converts minor dedicated efforts into long-lasting unyielding progress. For those who can harness the power of momentum, there is no unachievable goal. 

Momentum is something we build. We do not wake up one random morning and find suddenly that stars have aligned perfectly in our favor. God does not bestow haphazardly the blessings of momentum. Though God might give us a sense of direction and a glimpse into our personal magnitude, He does not push, pull, or exert physical influence over our lives sufficient to initiate momentum.

Heavenly Father might string the bow and provide the quiver, but it is our hand that nocks the arrow and draws the string. It is our arm that steadies and restrains the compressive and kinetic energy of the bow. And it is our eye that dictates the aim. Yes, momentum must be built; and we must be the builder.

If ever you have experienced a period of aimlessness, stagnancy, or inertness, what you are actually experiencing is a crisis in momentum. Something is off in the formula. 

If you find yourself unmotivated, indecisive, or inert, then perhaps you might have a strong sense of your worth (magnitude), but your ability to channel that knowledge appropriately towards worthy goals might be hampered (velocity):

Momentum ≠ Magnitude x Hesitance

If you find yourself spinning your wheels, putting forth an exhaustive effort without noticeable traction, then perhaps you are anxiously engaging or actively pursuing (velocity), but your sense of purpose might be unclear or your self worth misunderstood (magnitude):

Momentum ≠ Insignificance x Velocity

If we want to improve our situation, if we want to remove ourselves from the cycle of small aims, misdirected effort, and lackluster living, then we have to get the formula right. We have to take seriously our responsibility to build positive momentum in our lives.

In a April 2022 General Conference address, President Nelson provided the framework whereby we might build momentum in our spiritual lives. While his words and counsel might have approached this topic from a spiritual angle, these same steps can be applied towards building momentum in all aspects of our lives. So enmeshed and intertwined are the spiritual and temporal worlds that we navigate, that by following this counsel we will find renewed and powerful momentum taking affect in our daily life.

1. Get on the covenant path

“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step” - Chinese Proverb

Momentum demands movement. We can imagine, debate, and dither over details in our minds, but unless we take the first steps, then we cannot expect to make progress towards any meaningful goal or destination.

When considering some scriptural examples of men who, after wandering paths of sin, returned to the covenant path, I am impressed to think of the impact each of them had and the mark they made in history:

- Alma the younger

- The Apostle Paul

- Corianton

Their experiences prove what we already know instinctively; that we each posses a potential for far-reaching good, even when we find ourselves at our very worst.

We often discredit the power and potential of the first step. But we can also make the mistake of being far too intimidated by it too. The first step doesn’t need to be a monumental leap. Rather than focus on the the magnitude of that first step, we should focus on the much simpler act of taking that first step, however small and insignificant it might seem.

Remember, we are building momentum, one small, impactful step at a time. 

2. Discover the Joy of Daily Repentance

We place an inflated value a “results now” mentality. We want what we want, and we want it now. I have found that in the practice of repentance, we make the same mistake; we want to be perfect, and we want to be perfect now.

I came to this realization this week, when out of frustration, I wondered why I couldn’t just learn my lessons, take my lumps, and just move on. I pondered why I couldn’t just make my mistake and learn from it. That was, in my mind, what repentance was all about; moving on.

The mistake in my thinking was believing that repentance was more formulaic than it really is. In my mind, a mistake is made, it is recognized and addressed, and then we move on. The reality is far more nuanced and complex. We say repentance is a process, but we actually hope (incorrectly) that it is a formula. This confusion can, and does create a lot of dissatisfaction with the practice of repentance. And here is where we find wisdom in the counsel to discover the joy of daily repentance:

If we can change our mindset to recognize repentance as a persistent and dedicated approach to incremental improvement, then we begin to find more satisfaction in repentance. We tend to be easier on ourselves; more patient with our own shortcomings. We change our focus from hard deadlines and noticeable immediate results, to a focus on learning, improving, and harnessing the power of compounding interest from small and meaningful gains.

Finding joy in repentance means trusting that results will come. It means being patient in your imperfections, while simultaneously being serious in your efforts to overcome them. It means accepting responsibility over those things we can control, and letting go of the things we cannot.

3. Learn about God and how he works

When beholding one of the most horrific scenes of his life, Amulek watched the gruesome martyrdom of innocent men, women, and children who dared convert and commit themselves to a higher standard of living. Out of what I imagine to be intense frustration, Amulek asked the question:

How can we witness this awful scene? Therefore let us stretch forth our hands, and exercise the ​​​power​ of God which is in us, and save them from the flames.

When we see similar atrocities, we might ask:

Where is God?

Why does He not intervene?

Where is the pavilion that covereth His hiding place?

Through the combined missionary efforts of Alma and Amulek, great success had been achieved in teaching and converting their brethren prior to the awful martyrdom scene explained in Alma chapter 14. After building so much momentum, it must have been a heart wrenching and discouraging experience to witness such a tragedy. But here we learn an important lesson on how we can maintain momentum through our understanding of God and how He works.

Through the insight and teaching of Alma, Amulek learns how God works, and why He allows bad things happen to good people. Having learned this important lesson, Amulek doesn’t allow the tragic experience to halt his momentum. Rather, he uses his newfound understanding of God and how He works to propel himself towards even more success.

The experience of revered neurologist, author, and philosopher Viktor Frankl’s echoes the experience of Amulek. Rather than allowing the horrors of surviving the Holocaust ruin and sour his life, Frankl reflected, observed, and sought additional understanding of why bad things happen to good people. Frankl gained valuable insight, and through his written works, he shared that insight with millions of readers, impacting and improving the lives of multiple generations.

When we allow tragedy, misfortune, and injustice to interrupt our lives or make jaded our world view and perspective, we willfully put to a halt our momentum.

But, if we instead seek opportunities to understand the world around us, and to gain knowledge of God’s work and His glory, then we are creating a situation whereby our momentum can increase.

4. Seek and Expect Miracles

“Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find… For everyone that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth…” Matthew 7:7-8

Why should we seek miracles? Because we cannot experience them without first seeking them. Miracles don’t just happen in a vacuum. They occur only when the conditions of faith, need, and preparation are present.

I find it interesting that the expectation of miracles is also a necessary part of this counsel. To expect miracles, we should keep watch for them. We should anticipate that our faith and our efforts will be fruitful. As you expect miracles, you will see them. You will recognize how often they are bestowed upon you. You will be surprised to find that we are sustained miracles, big and small, on a frequent basis.

In some circumstances, to expect miracles might require as much faith as it takes to seek them. If we get into the habit of not expecting miracles, we lose confidence that God is with us and we lose the momentum that results from that confidence.

5. End Conflict in Your Personal Life

Few things have more influence on momentum than friction. When present, friction resists motion; slowing down an object to the point where all movement has ceased.

Whether it is exerting influence in the world of physics or in our personal lives, friction generates the same debilitating effect. When present in our personal life, friction will hinder and impede our momentum, until the moment when all progress has been halted, and in some cases, becomes undone entirely.

The influences of anger, jealousy, revenge, and pride will eventually render us inept and inert if we allow them to guide our interactions and dictate our response to conflict. By holding on to these feelings, we will find that our experience to be like riding down a slide of sandpaper; the way is coarse and uncomfortable, and no one walks away without a scratch.

“How much more harmful are the consequences of anger,” spoke the wise Marcus Aurelius, “than the circumstances that aroused them in us”.

When it comes to settling scores, there are no winners.

Taking an eye for an eye soon leaves the world dark and colorless.

Adding fuel to fire and insult to injury equivalates to adding friction to our momentum. It is unnecessary. It is unwise. But it is within our power and control to make friction an unavailing presence in our lives.

Of course this is excellent advice and all, but what can be done when the conflict and the friction present in your life is not of your own doing? What of the conflict introduced in our lives, not by our own choice, but by the choices of others?

The answer to these difficult questions can be found in the experiences of Joseph of Egypt.

Having been beaten and sold into slavery by his own brothers, falsely accused and imprisoned by his master, forgotten and neglected by his cell mates, Joseph of the Old Testament demonstrated exactly how we can respond to situations where our hardships are the direct result of other people's choices. Even so, after enduring betrayal upon betrayal, and misfortune upon misfortune, few biblical characters epitomize the power of momentum as Joseph did.

In every hardship, Joseph responded the only way that he could, or that any of us could; Joseph focused on those things that were in his control. By all appearances, Joseph spent little energy skulking and souring over his misfortune. He had determined, whatever his circumstances, he would do his best.

This is not to say that Joseph was perfect. I am certain that over the course of his difficult life he would have experienced intense rejection, resentment, frustration, heartache, anger, and disdain. I think this is evident by his petty and uncharacteristic treatment of his brothers towards the end of his story. But what is unique about Joseph is his incredible ability to build momentum and follow a divinely inspired trajectory, despite the intense injustice forced upon him. With apparent ease, Joseph wouldn't allow the choices and wrong-doings of others destroy his momentum. In fact, you might argue that he turned his misfortune into opportunity, which only amplified the momentum he already possessed.

This is what happens when we actively and intentionally end the conflict in our personal life. This is what happens when we address our internal struggles and seek to remove the internal conflicts that beset us. Over time, and with enough effort, the fiery darts, the venomous slander, and the malicious treatment that others aim at us... it all becomes irrelevant.

When dedicated to building momentum, as opposed to building resentment, we unlock our divine power and potential. Continued dedication breeds continued growth, until finally we arrive at a place where the offenses of others can do nothing to halt the momentum we have built.