Life is not linear: If I had known then what I know now about the momentum cycle

Today, I'm sharing a simple truth that often goes unspoken: life is not linear. We're conditioned to believe that progress should be a steady, upward journey, but what if our lives actually operate in cycles, not straight lines? I'm unpacking the "momentum cycle" and exploring why your energy, creativity, and focus naturally ebb and flow through distinct seasons—surges of expansion, hard stops of crisis, the uncertainty of transitions, and the necessity of recovery—and why striving to always be at your peak can actually hinder your progress. If you're tired of measuring your life against an unfair expectation of nonstop achievement, tune in for fresh insights on honoring your energy, matching your actions to your current season, and finding power, even in the pauses. Show Highlights: Details of Kate Northrup's upcoming money workshop. [00:59] The fallacy that life is linear vs. the "momentum cycle." [03:44] The highs and gradual low of growth and expansion. [07:31] Navigating crisis periods with focus. [09:40] How transition and change can become accelerators. [12:49] Do you allow yourself time to recover and heal? [16:59] Suffering due to misaligned output and capacity. [21:00] How can you honor your human limits? [24:57] The power and opportunity in pausing. [26:24] Find out whether you're in sync with your phase. [28:53] The joy of trusting the cycle and celebrating others' wins. [30:00] To register for Good with Money click here:

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Life is not linear: If I had known then what I know now about the momentum cycle is an episode from Brilliant Balance by Cherylanne Skolnicki.

This episode is 33:26 long.

This episode was published on Apr 7, 2026.

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