When Quicksand is Winning—How to Regain Your Power
Let me tell you the truth about momentum.
Last year, I felt like I was running on a hamster wheel—moving, grinding, constantly pushing forward, but not necessarily getting anywhere. So this year, I did something different. I made a plan. A real plan. And I stuck to it.
January came, and I marched to that plan with determination and clarity. I wasn’t just going through the motions—I was executing. I was doing everything right.
But then, something happened.
I wasn’t sad. I wasn’t happy. I was just… there. And worse, the accountability that was supposed to keep me going? It became draining. The people I was pouring into weren’t pouring back. I found myself showing up for others, but no one was showing up for me.
And yet, I kept going. I had one clear goal: Publish my eBook on Black Women’s Health. I worked tirelessly, put my heart into it, and hit that milestone.
And then? Silence.
No cheering. No support. Sales? Minimal. The vision I had in my mind—the impact I thought I’d feel—didn’t manifest. Instead, I found myself stepping into March feeling like quicksand was winning.
If you’ve ever felt like you were pushing forward but sinking at the same time, I need you to hear me:
Your effort is not wasted. Your momentum is not lost. You just need a new way forward.
Step 1: A Slow Start is Data, Not Defeat
Here’s the first thing I had to realize:
Lack of results does not mean lack of progress.
In psychology, there’s something called the “Progress Principle” (Amabile & Kramer, 2011), which says that small wins matter more than big milestones when it comes to motivation.
What does that mean for you and me?
It means that just because the result didn’t match the effort, doesn’t mean the effort was in vain. Your work—your consistency—is building something, even if you don’t see it yet.
Reframe the Narrative:
❌ “I’m failing because I don’t see results.”
✅ “I am in a growth phase, and the breakthrough is still coming.”
🚀 Instead of focusing on what hasn’t happened yet, ask:
- What did I gain in the process?
- What skills did I refine?
- What strength did I uncover in myself?
Because if you’re still here, still trying, still pushing forward—you are winning.
Step 2: Audit & Realign Your Goals
After I hit publish on my eBook and the reaction wasn’t what I imagined, I had to take a step back. Not to give up—but to reevaluate.
This is what I ask my coaching clients when they hit that wall:
✔️ Is this goal still aligned with my deeper purpose?
✔️ Am I chasing validation, or am I focused on impact?
✔️ Do I need to adjust the approach rather than abandon the goal?
💡 Try This: If your goal isn’t exciting anymore, rewrite it. If it still matters but feels heavy, break it into smaller, winnable steps that keep you engaged.
Step 3: The 90-Day Recalibration Plan
When you feel stuck, don’t try to “fix” the whole year. Instead, shrink the timeline and create a focused 90-day sprint:
🔹 Month 1: Rebuild Energy → Step back, rest, and recalibrate.
🔹 Month 2: Tactical Action → Focus on micro-wins (small, tangible progress).
🔹 Month 3: Acceleration & Refinement → Assess, tweak, and go harder.
💡Research on behavioral motivation (Baumeister & Tierney, 2011) proves that short bursts of focus (90 days) are more effective than year-long goal setting. Why? The brain stays engaged. The finish line is closer. And you stay motivated.
Step 4: Reignite Momentum with Purposeful Action
Momentum isn’t about doing more—it’s about doing what matters most, consistently.
3 Proven Ways to Regain Momentum Today:
these tools or as I call them “action-steps” definitely re-ignited my “doing”
✔ The Two-Minute Rule: If it takes less than 2 minutes, do it now. Tiny wins fuel motivation.
✔ Habit Stacking: Attach new habits to existing ones (Ex: Review your goals while drinking your morning coffee ☕).
✔ Reverse Engineering: Start at the finish line and work backward—find the smallest step forward.
🚀 Your Turn: What’s ONE action you can take today? Not tomorrow. TODAY. Write it down. Say it out loud. DM it to a friend. Make it real.
Step 5: Redefine Accountability—Who’s in Your Corner?
I learned something powerful:
Not everyone who says they’re with you is actually helping you move forward.
I had accountability partners, but I realized they were draining me, not fueling me. They needed me, but I wasn’t getting what I needed in return.
So I had to make a decision:
✔ Shift my accountability circle—Find people who challenge AND uplift me.
✔ Set boundaries—Not everyone deserves access to my energy.
✔ Prioritize reciprocal relationships—If I’m pouring into you, I need you to pour back.
💡 Coaching Challenge: Who in your life truly holds you accountable? Who do you need to step away from to protect your energy?
Step 6: Trust the Process—Your Breakthrough is Coming
If I had stopped after publishing my eBook, I would have never realized something crucial: Momentum isn’t about what happens next. It’s about what you do next.
Maybe right now, you feel like quicksand is winning. Like you’re sinking instead of soaring.
I see you. I’ve been there. And I need you to know—you are not stuck.
🚀 Here’s your challenge:
🔹 Take ONE small action today. Just one.
🔹 Reassess your goals. Are they still serving you?
🔹 Find your fuel. Who is energizing you—and who is draining you?
And if you need structure, download my FREE Goal-Setting Worksheet—it’s the same tool I use with my coaching clients to realign and accelerate their momentum.
Let’s get moving. Drop a 🔥 in the comments if you’re ready.