The craft of shaping life's circumstances into excellent experiences.
Circumstances are what life brings us. Moments are what we make of them. Momentmaking applies intention, stance, and skill to the circumstances at hand. Left unmade, circumstances become situations: ambiguous experiences with no particular value to anyone involved.
Carpe diem is bad advice. Seizing anchors on ourselves instead of coordinating with others. It encourages taking, which is admirable in a win-lose game and extractive in a cooperative one. Facias diem translates as may you make your day: it invites rather than commands.
Four properties. Connection: being present with the people, places, and circumstances we encounter. Contribution: noticing what's missing and adding value. Clarity: reading circumstances accurately and aligning on a course of action. Compassion: considering other people's needs in our choices.
Thriving is the capacity to overcome entropy by finding direction and moving toward it. Getting started is the hardest part, like the first push on a bicycle pedal. A small amount of well-placed effort overcomes inertia. Momentmaking is the same. All it takes is a small effort like a smile or eye contact. It is a choice by the maker to get something going. That something doesn't have to be grand, but it does require intention, stance, and skill.
Making things better takes real energy and sometimes we just don't have enough. Verity clarifies and aligns our intentions with our behaviors into true form. When faced with the pull of inertia, the specter of fear, or the flood of overwhelm, it's easier to take the path of least resistance. Growth posture builds our inner strength and brings fresh energy to a moment when we most need it.
Growth is a direction, not a destination. Momentum gets us moving; Verity keeps us true. Practiced together in repeated cycles, they lead to the advanced practices of Reciprocity and Identity on a spiraling path to growth.
We take up momentmaking the way anyone takes up woodworking or the guitar. A craft is not studied in books, it's practiced with behaviors. Our first attempts in a new skill area are often poorly done but can get better with repetition and guidance.
The Momentmaking app has two tools to support your practice. Use the link above to open it in your browser, and save it to your phone's home screen for easy access. Data collected is yours to keep and free to share if you opt in to support ongoing research.
How are you? Answer along six dimensions in under a minute and track your capacity for making.
Track how your energy builds and ebbs and map it to your making.
Recognize circumstances and define a scene. Assess your making efforts using the four properties.
Skills build faster with practice, mentorship, and community.
Excellence is a tiny rebellion against adversity.
Busy is not progress. A playful heart keeps you going through the routine.
Three back-to-back mountain hikes, nearly 80 miles, and an event built on helping each other rather than beating each other.
