Motivation is not a constant thing that is always there for us. As it comes and goes, managing the in between time feels insurmountable because we think the goal is to maintain a constant state of high motivation. In fact, the goal is to maintain the in-between space more effectively. Managing our feelings helps us maintain an emotional equilibrium giving us a greater connection to the feel of our work.

The word “iterate” is one of the most overused jargon, but it is effective in pushing our learning, leadership and overall development forward. Focusing on the small wins helps combat the all or nothing mentality that creeps in when we are overwhelmed, looking for direction, and determining what reasonable next steps should be.

Inner peace is a resource that is always available to us, even under the most intense life pressures. Patience is a quality of emotional equilibrium—and to develop, it requires constant practice. Our aim is to find a neutral equilibrium. Neutrality is where we enjoy the highest creativity, where we see the most alternatives to instant reactivity. 

Understanding first how lucky you are, to live where you live, work where you work, and have the problems to solve that you do, helps mitigate the initial urge to complain. From there, seeing a path toward a better outcome, a path toward insight can help you cultivate your critical thinking skills, rather than indulge your itch to complain. Complaining adds nothing but volume.

There are no dead ends. Tipping back or being stuck teaches valuable lessons about how to get back on track. Focusing our attention on accumulating small wins. Framing our views determine our direction. Amplifying what works increases our momentum and ultimately gets us back on track.