You’ve been there—feeling like you’re stuck.
Whether it’s your career, your health, your relationships, or even just your mood, that feeling of being trapped can hit hard.
But here’s the truth:
You’re not stuck. You’re just missing one thing: momentum.
Andrew Bustamante, a former CIA operative, breaks it down perfectly in his talk on how the brain reacts to a lack of momentum.
It’s not about being “stuck” in the traditional sense—it’s about losing that forward motion that makes you feel like progress is happening.
Without it, you start doubting yourself. You get overwhelmed.
And, eventually, you stop trying.
But here’s the kicker:
You can create momentum.
And the best part? It doesn’t take a huge leap—it takes small wins.
Let’s break it down.
Why You Feel Stuck (And How Momentum Fixes It)
When you feel stuck, it’s because your brain isn’t seeing any forward movement.
Your body and mind are in a state of inertia. No wins. No progress. Just stuck.
Bustamante explains it perfectly: The brain craves momentum.
When we feel like we’re winning—even in small ways—it boosts our confidence, increases our resilience, and makes us ready to take on bigger challenges.
So, what does that mean for you?
It means that when you feel stuck, it’s not about being physically trapped in your situation.
What you’re really feeling is a lack of momentum. And the solution is simple: Create small wins.
Build Momentum with Small Victories
Here’s the thing—small victories are the secret to building momentum. And I’m not talking about big, life-changing wins. Start with the basics.
These can be as simple as:
- At work: Finish a task you’ve been procrastinating on, even if it’s a small one.
- In your relationships: Have a meaningful conversation with someone you care about.
- In fitness: Get moving for just 10 minutes.
- In health: Eat one healthy meal today. That’s it.
The beauty of this approach is that small wins don’t require dramatic changes.
You just need to focus on something simple, and over time, those wins compound.
And as your brain starts to experience those little successes, your confidence grows.
The positive chemicals—dopamine, adrenaline, serotonin—start to flow.
And guess what? You start wanting more.
How Small Wins Snowball into Big Wins
Once you start stacking those small victories, something amazing happens: Momentum.
A win in one area can spill over into another. Bustamante calls this the "ripple effect."
For example, when you get your workout in, you’ll feel more focused at work, more connected in your relationships, and just generally more positive.
It’s all connected. Momentum in one area feeds the others.
Once you start seeing yourself winning, your brain rewires itself to believe that more wins are possible. It’s a compounding effect that starts small but grows quickly.
And when you’re feeling that momentum, it’s not just about feeling better. It’s about being more equipped to tackle bigger, more significant challenges.
Small victories give you the mental clarity and energy to take on even more.
The Chemical Impact of Momentum
Here’s where it gets cool:
Your brain changes when you start to win.
When you consistently achieve small victories, your brain releases chemicals that prime you for success.
This is where the magic happens:
dopamine, adrenaline, and cortisol (the stress hormone) balance out, giving you more energy, focus, and confidence.
That’s the brain’s way of saying, “Alright, let’s go! Keep winning!”
But here’s the opposite:
When you don’t experience any wins, the cortisol starts to build up, and you’re stuck in a cycle of stress and frustration. It’s hard to see a way out.
The key to breaking that cycle is building momentum.
And momentum doesn’t require you to climb Mount Everest—just take the first step, and keep taking it.
How to Start Building Momentum Today
The good news? You don’t have to wait for some big breakthrough. Start small. Start with one small win. Here’s how you do it:
- Choose a small victory: Think about an area of your life where you feel stuck, and identify something tiny you can accomplish today. It doesn’t need to be big—just a win.
- Celebrate that win: The goal here is not just to complete the task—it’s to recognize that you succeeded. Acknowledge it. Feel proud of it.
- Build on that success: Tomorrow, pick another small win. And then the next day. Keep going. Watch how the wins start stacking up.
For Bustamante, one of the ways he builds momentum is through his relationship.
When he feels stuck, he finds small wins by having simple, meaningful conversations with his wife.
A little compliment, a deep talk about something meaningful, or just spending time together.
Small victories in your personal relationships can be just as powerful in building momentum as victories at work or in fitness.
Momentum: The Ultimate Confidence Builder
When you start stacking up small victories, you’ll feel your confidence grow.
Your brain will start to believe that you can take bigger risks. You’ll start seeing opportunities, not obstacles.
You’ll be more willing to take action, knowing that every small victory makes the next one more achievable.
And here's the best part:
As your confidence grows, so does your ability to take on challenges.
You’ll start to feel like you can handle anything because you’ve built a track record of success—even if it’s only made up of small wins.
Conclusion: Momentum Is the Game Changer
If you're feeling stuck, it's time to stop thinking about being trapped in your circumstances. What you’re really feeling is a lack of momentum.
The cure?
Small victories. They don’t have to be huge.
Just take one small step, and then another. Watch how the momentum builds. Celebrate those wins, and keep stacking them up.
Small victories create massive momentum.
Momentum fuels confidence. And confidence fuels success. So stop waiting for a big breakthrough.
Start today, start small, and watch how you break free from that stuck feeling and move toward the life you want to create.
Take the first step. And then the next. Keep winning. Keep building momentum. And the sky’s the limit.
This post was inspired by insights from Andrew Bustamante's video.
