Positive Momentum
A Simple Guide to Building (and Keeping) Forward Energy in Everything You Do
I'm Manuel Saez, I write to help founders master emotional intelligence to make decisions with clarity and confidence 🌻 EQ coach, 2X-founder & award-winning designer ➜ I love fixing old motorcycles 🛵 🏍
In architecture school, we studied physics. I wasn’t expecting it, but one particular formula stuck with me: momentum equals mass times velocity.
The bigger something is, and the faster it moves, the harder it is to stop.
Back then, we were calculating the load on a beam, but something about it felt familiar in a deeper way. Like maybe this rule applied to more than just buildings.
Years later, while training to become an emotional intelligence coach, I realized that the same equation applied to my thoughts and emotions.
Once a certain kind of thought gets moving, it’s hard to stop. Especially when it’s negative. It is like a snowball that keeps growing as it roll downhill.
One anxious idea turns into three.
One conversation triggers the ego to overreact.
One small frustration spirals into a full day of self-doubt.
But the opposite is also true.
When I have a good day, a small win, a kind message, if I stay with it and nurture it, it grows.
One good thought leads to another.
One smile changes the tone of the room.
One shift in perspective can change how I see my whole day.
That’s positive momentum, and the best part is, it’s something we can influence.
Here’s how I’ve learned to build it and keep it going.
Start with a Thought
Positive momentum always starts in the same place: your mind.
Not your circumstances.
Not the weather.
Not your inbox.
Positive momentum always starts with one purposeful, constructive thought.
I remind myself: I have what I need to make this a good day.
That thought becomes a lens. Suddenly,
I notice things working in my favor.
I feel more confident walking into meetings.
I speak with clarity.
The day reflects back what I believe.
I wrote an essay on this topic if you are interested ➜ Link
Start Small, Keep Moving
The easiest way to build momentum is to start.
Not perfectly. Not dramatically. Just start.
Make your bed. Send that one email. Go to the gym for 10 minutes. These aren’t productivity hacks, they’re small signals to your brain: We’re in motion now.
And once you're in motion, it's much easier to stay there.
What I’ve noticed is that forward movement creates its own fuel.
A small win leads to a bigger one.
Writing a single paragraph opens the door to writing more.
Making one call turns into a productive afternoon.
It’s not about chasing some massive breakthrough; it’s about stacking small efforts that shift the energy of your day.
The secret isn’t motivation, it’s momentum. And momentum rewards motion. It doesn’t have to be fast or fancy. Just needs to feel like progress.
Match the Energy You Want
Positive momentum is contagious.
If I bring calm, people tend to meet me there.
If I show up with enthusiasm, others pick up on that, too.
When I was running my company, I noticed how much my team mirrored my mood. If I felt hopeful, they did too. If I was tense, the room got quiet.
Now, I ask myself: What energy do I want to attract today? Then I try to show up with that energy first.
The Power of Acceptance
Accepting “what is” is one of the most surprising sources of positive momentum.
It sounds backwards. Momentum feels like effort, like pushing forward. But sometimes, the thing that moves us most is acceptance.
When I resist what is,
when I try to control outcomes, force progress,
when I hold onto what’s not working, I stall.
My energy gets tied up in frustration. But when I pause, take a breath, and accept where I am, something shifts.
I stop leaking energy into the past or into what I can’t control, and suddenly I have more of it to focus on what I can.
Letting go isn’t giving up. It’s making space. And that space often becomes the doorway back to clarity, action, and, eventually, positive momentum.
Shift the Story
Our inner narrative is the rudder of our momentum.
A small failure can either be the start of a shame spiral or just a moment to learn and move forward.
The story I tell myself matters. Mind the internal narratives.
Instead of “I messed that up,” I try “I learned something useful.”
Instead of “This is falling apart,” I try “This is an inflection point.”
That small shift keeps the wheels turning in a better direction.
Surround Yourself with Catalysts
Some people drain you. Others light you up.
If I want to build positive momentum, I need to be around people who challenge me, support me, and believe in me.
When I’m stuck, I call a friend who knows how to see the good in things. Sometimes, just hearing someone else say “You’ve got this” is enough to move me forward.
Seek and nurture positive people in your life; they are your fuel.
Celebrate Progress
Acknowledging progress keeps the flame alive.
Too often, I skip this step. I hit a goal and immediately focus on the next one. But momentum doesn’t just come from movement; it comes from meaning.
When I take a moment to recognize what I’ve done, whether it’s something small or something hard, I reinforce the belief that I can keep going.
Don’t Wait for the Feeling
This one took me a while to learn. Positive momentum doesn’t always start with a good mood. Sometimes the feeling comes after the action.
I used to wait until I “felt” like working out or writing or reaching out. Now I know: feelings follow behavior.
So I start with the smallest possible action, and often the motivation shows up after I begin.
Protect Your Inputs
What you consume affects how you feel.
I’ve noticed that when I scroll aimlessly or spend too much time reading the news, I feel sluggish and disconnected.
But when I listen to something inspiring or read something thoughtful, I feel focused and grounded.
If I want to stay in positive momentum, I have to be intentional about what I let in.
Use Your Breath
Sometimes momentum stalls. That’s normal. What matters is how you respond.
When I feel stuck or tense, I stop and breathe. Just a few deep breaths can interrupt the loop of stress and give me a second to choose a better thought.
It’s a small practice with a big impact. It gives me a reset button.
Build a Practice, Not a Streak
Momentum isn’t about perfection. You’re going to have off days. I do too.
The key is not to chase an unbroken streak; it’s to build a practice that’s easy to return to.
I try not to guilt myself when I fall out of rhythm.
I just return to the thought: Let’s start again. That’s where the momentum begins.
When I zoom out on my life, I can trace every high-growth season back to a moment when I chose a better thought.
That one decision shaped my actions, my outlook, and eventually, my results.
Positive momentum isn’t magic. It’s physics. Get things moving in the right direction, and they tend to stay that way.
What helps you keep your momentum going? I'd love to hear what works for you.
Sending you good vibes 🌻
Manuel