Chaos & Momentum Can Coexist
- jess69096
- 6 days ago
- 2 min read
You don’t have to be fully together to move forward.
For a long time, I believed I had to wait until things “settled down” before I could get traction.
When life quietened.
When the to-do list shrank.
When I had more energy… more time… more clarity.
But real life doesn’t pause so we can improve. We don’t always get clear air before we get moving. Sometimes, chaos arrives right when we’re trying to rise.
And still — progress happens anyway.
Real Life Isn’t Linear
Planning systems, productivity tips, and even leadership frameworks often assume one thing:
That you have the capacity to think clearly before starting.
But what about when:
you’re interrupted 12 times before lunch
you’re juggling kids and clients
you’re on your third load of washing
your brain is tired but the world still needs you
Is momentum still possible?
Yes. Because momentum doesn’t need perfection. It just needs direction.
Chaos Doesn’t Cancel Capability
We often mistake stillness for ability. We think: “If I’m scattered, tired, overwhelmed… I must not be capable enough yet.”
But I’ve learned: Chaos doesn’t disqualify you. It doesn’t even slow you down as much as you think.
In fact, chaos can push us toward clarity. It can force us to prioritise. It can make us creative, adaptable, resourceful.
It can remind us:
Leadership isn’t control. It’s response.
Momentum in a Messy Day
Momentum isn’t big leaps. It isn’t perfect routines.
Sometimes momentum looks like:
doing one thing instead of everything
moving one task forward, and allowing the rest to wait
choosing peace over perfection
keeping your tone gentle, even when your schedule isn’t
asking for help
Sometimes momentum is simply refusing to disappear inside the overwhelm.
Two Things Can Be True
Your day can feel overloaded and you can still make progress.
You can feel tired and still be capable.
You can feel unsure and still take the next step.
We don’t have to choose between chaos or momentum. Real life often holds both.
What matters is how we respond. Do we give up, or redirect? Do we see failure, or flexibility?
The Real Shift
What changed everything for me wasn’t a new planner or productivity method. It was acceptance, forced acceptance to begin with after the arrival of our third child, but a new awareness settled in this space to move with the momentum, instead of trying to control it.
I stopped trying to bend life into my plans, and started building plans that could bend with life.
Because chaos isn’t the opposite of capability. It’s where capability learns to lead.
If Things Feel Messy Right Now
Take this with you:
Progress doesn’t wait for perfect conditions. Clarity can grow inside noise. Momentum isn’t always loud. Sometimes it’s one small movement, repeated gently.
Chaos is not proof that you’re failing. Some days: it’s proof that you’re still trying.
And that… is momentum.
🌿 Not perfect, just real.
If this resonated, you might like what I call
Capable Living — planning with capacity, not pressure.
I send real ideas, real tools & real support twice a month.
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