One thing I’ve learned the hard way is that motivation is not constant. I cannot count the number of times I’ve been super psyched about a project that felt like the end-all-be-all, only to lose interest completely when things got tough or didn’t work out as I’d planned. I used to kick myself over it until I learned a simple truth: motivation changes over time, and the best way to stay motivated for the long haul is to go with the flow and work with how you feel about it now.
There are multiple lessons in my Noom app on the topic of motivation. A graphic in one lesson reminded me of a roller coaster, and Noom’s description of the phases of motivation make it a perfect analogy.
Momentum: As with any roller coaster, motivation starts by gathering momentum. That’s the “hype” part of the process, where you are moving up-up-up at a steady climb. This is when you are working your hardest and making the biggest strides. We’re all excited at the beginning of a new project, right?
Coasting: At the height of your efforts, you reach the plateau that Noom calls “the honeymoon,” where you are just coasting along on all the work you’ve put in and things are going well. But then, suddenly, you crest the peak, and what happens?
Plunging: Noom calls the fall after the peak “the plummet.” This is when your momentum slips and down you go. Just like the roller coaster, once you hit the top of that peak, you will eventually come back down. Reality has set in, and your motivation starts to decrease. Maybe you’re not making the progress you wanted to, or you slip up and eat a donut. Whatever the cause, your motivation takes a big hit, and suddenly you are having a hard time getting interested at all.
Stopping: Sadly, this is where many people get stuck. Noom calls it a “lapse,” but whatever it is, you stop doing whatever it was that had you so motivated when you started out. We start allowing thought distortions (when our mind convinces us of things that aren’t true) to guide us, and that often means that we decide to give up.
Ebbs and Flows: But roller coasters don’t stop after one hill, and your motivation doesn’t have to, either! Over time, your motivation will come and go, but you can use your lapses to grow, learn, and get stronger!
So, what does the moon have to do with motivation, surprisingly, a lot. The moon is the closest celestial object in our sky, and as it so happens, like motivation, it is cyclic. The cycles of the moon are so predictable that humans have been marking seasons, predicting weather, planting crops, and much more since the beginning of recorded time. Whether or not you follow aspects of astrology or believe in the crazies of the full moon, you can still use the lessons of this magnificent orb to ride the waves of your motivational ups and downs.
People all over the world have believed in following the phases of the moon for timing of specific activities. Even our farmer’s almanac has information about the moon phases. In the interest of keeping this short and simple, I’m breaking the moon’s cycles into four phases: the new moon, the waxing moon, the full moon, and the waning moon.
The New Moon: This is the start of the moon’s (almost) 30-day cycle. This is a great time to speculate, plan, set goals, clarify intentions, and make initial contact. This is the start of your momentum, the station on the roller coaster where you get in the car.
The Waxing Moon: Technically, this is three phases: the waxing crescent, the first quarter, and the waxing gibbous moon. This is the period when the “hype” of your momentum is building, just like the moon is growing daily in size. By focusing on the action phases of your projects, you are building and working towards your goals. Use this energy while you have it!
The Full Moon: This is when the moon is shining its brightest! Sometimes, it’s what we might call a “super moon” which means it is closer to the Earth on this orbit and it looks bigger in the sky than normal. This is when we can see how much we have accomplished and be grateful for it. Celebrate all your wins, big and small, and enjoy the momentum you have built up!
The Waning Moon: The cycle begins to wind to the close, and so the waning moon starts to diminish in size over the course of the three waning phases: the disseminating or waning gibbous moon, the last (or third) quarter, and the final phase, the waning crescent, which includes the final 3 days of the cycle called the balsamic or dark of the moon. Like the cycle of motivation, this is the time of winding down, releasing, reducing, decreasing, resting, relaxing, meditation and retreat. It is a time of introspection and tying up loose ends. It’s a good time to let things happen and let things go. Break negative patterns. Re-evaluate what you’ve done so far and get ready to start off a new cycle with renewed energy, motivation, and maybe even a new approach.
I’ve been using the moon’s cycles for a while now, and I’ve found it helpful in staying productive and accomplishing my goals. The main thing to remember is that all motivation is cyclic, just like the moon, and if you can ride through the dips on that roller coaster, soon you’ll be riding the crest again. Just don’t stop. The moon never does.
Have you ever used the moon phases to accomplish a goal? I’d love to hear about it! Share your story below or start a conversation on our MMC Chat Facebook group!
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