How Momentum Builds Dreams
- Liz Donahey
- Jun 24
- 4 min read
When We Fall, We Must Keep Pedaling
Especially when we fail, fall, or crash, we cannot give up.
Momentum isn’t something we find. Momentum is something we create. As human beings, our greatest strength comes from our mental and physical resilience, but also from the love we give to others by showing up, working hard, supporting our friends, and staying committed to the people and dreams that matter most.
Life will knock us down. Mountain biking will knock us down. Relationships, careers, finances, and personal challenges will test us. But every challenge presents us with a choice: stay down or get back up. To build the life we want, we must keep moving forward. Momentum begins with getting back up.
The Six Domains of Life
One of the most important lessons I’ve learned is that we can’t afford to lose momentum in the areas of life that matter most. I often think about what I call the six domains of life: self, family, partner, work, community, and purpose. Each domain requires our attention, energy, and commitment. The challenge is finding a way to keep all six moving forward, even when life feels difficult or overwhelming. Progress doesn’t require perfection. It requires consistency.
Know What You’re Fighting For
The most important lesson I’ve learned is that we must know what we’re fighting for.
Maybe it’s our children. Maybe it’s our husband, wife, partner, or spouse. Maybe it’s a new business, a new home, financial freedom, better health, or a dream we’ve carried quietly in our hearts for years. Whatever it is, we have to keep pushing toward it.
We may not know for certain that we’ll achieve every goal we set. We may not know exactly how the story ends. But if we don’t try, we guarantee that it never happens.
Courage Creates Momentum
The truth is that momentum isn’t created when we’re feeling confident.
Momentum is created when we’re scared. It’s created when we’re uncertain. It’s created when we’re tired, discouraged, and wondering whether we have what it takes. To keep momentum alive, we must be brave when we feel weak. We must become our own champions when nobody else is cheering for us. And when we can’t find that strength alone, we must look to others who inspire us, people who remind us of what’s possible and help us believe in ourselves again. Every rider needs a coach. Every athlete needs a team. Every dreamer needs a community. Courage isn’t the absence of fear. Courage is moving forward despite it.
Building the Future One Step at a Time
Recently, I created a vision for a mountain retreat home. It wasn’t simply about a house. It represented freedom, peace, adventure, family, community, and a place where the people I love could gather and grow. That vision gave me something tangible to work toward. It helped me ask a bigger question: How do I reverse engineer the path to get there? How do I continue building MTB Girls Magazine? How do I support my teammates and help them grow? How do I strengthen my community and help others discover what’s possible for themselves?
The answer is simple. Keep moving forward. One ride. One conversation. One challenge. One day at a time. Small actions, repeated consistently, create extraordinary results.
The Life You Want Is Waiting
Mountain biking has taught me that the trail always moves forward. There will be obstacles, climbs, crashes, and moments when we question ourselves. But the trail rewards those who keep pedaling. The same is true in life. We have to go after what we love and who we love. We have to keep building, learning, adapting, and trying again.
Today, I know what I want more clearly than ever before. And I’m not going to stop until I get there.
MTB Mindset & Skills Clinics
The lessons I’ve learned through mountain biking became the foundation of my coaching philosophy and my book, The 23 Principles of Mountain Biking.
These principles are about far more than riding bikes. They are about building the life you want.
They teach us how to overcome fear, develop confidence, create momentum, navigate adversity, and move toward our biggest dreams—on and off the bike.
Mountain biking has the power to save us from a life we don’t want and lead us toward a life filled with purpose, connection, courage, adventure, and growth.
I invite you to join me at one of my upcoming clinics and discover how the transformative skills and mindset techniques found in the 23 Principles of Mountain Biking can help you become a stronger rider and a stronger version of yourself.
Join Me on the Trails This Summer!
Join me and Kim Meredith for one of our upcoming MTB Girls Ride Club Mountain Bike Clinics!
China Camp State Park, San Rafael Sunday, June 28
Wilder Ranch State Park, Santa Cruz, Saturday, July 18
These clinics combine mountain bike skills, mindset coaching, and guided riding on some of Northern California’s most iconic trails. Whether you’re looking to improve your climbing, cornering, descending, or overall confidence on the bike, we’d love to ride with you.
Reserve your spot today:
We can’t wait to see you on the trails!
Comments