Wiggle (Part 2): The Neuroscience of Everyday Maverick Momentum
In Part 1, I introduced the idea of Wiggle — the discipline of small movement when you feel stuck.
Now let’s formalize it.
Wiggle is not motivational language.
It is a neurobiological strategy.
And it works whether you believe in it or not.
What Actually Happens When You Feel Stuck
When we perceive threat, uncertainty, or overwhelming complexity, the brain activates the amygdala — our survival alarm system.
This is helpful in danger.
It is not helpful when you’re staring at:
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Debt
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A collapsing business deal
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Health challenges
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Relationship strain
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Career uncertainty
The amygdala doesn’t distinguish between a charging lion and an unpaid bill. It triggers stress hormones, narrows focus, and can push us into:
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Freeze
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Avoidance
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Procrastination
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Emotional reactivity
This is commonly called the freeze response.
You’re not weak.
You’re wired.
Why Small Action Changes Everything
Here’s where Wiggle becomes powerful.
The moment you take intentional, controllable action, even something small, you re-engage the prefrontal cortex — the rational, decision-making part of your brain.
This shifts you from survival mode to executive mode.
At the same time:
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Completing a small task releases dopamine
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Dopamine reinforces forward motion
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Progress reduces perceived threat
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Reduced threat quiets the amygdala
In simple terms:
Small action tells your brain,
"We are not helpless. We are in motion."
That is neurological leverage.
Wiggle as a Structured Strategy
Let’s formalize it into five practical steps.
1. Reduce the Problem to the Smallest Executable Unit
Not the whole mountain.
Not the five-year plan.
The smallest meaningful action you can complete today.
Examples:
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Pay one bill.
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Send one email.
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Organize one folder.
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Make one phone call.
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Walk for ten minutes.
Completion matters more than size.
2. Create Immediate Closure
Finish it fully. Don’t half-do it.
Completion is what triggers the dopamine reinforcement loop. Open loops drain mental energy. Closed loops build confidence.
3. Repeat Before Expanding
Momentum compounds.
Do not scale complexity too fast. Consistency strengthens neural pathways. The brain wires what it repeats.
This is called neuroplasticity — your brain physically reorganizes itself around repeated behavior.
You are literally rewiring yourself through small wins.
4. Increase Load Gradually
Once stability builds, increase difficulty slightly.
Not dramatically. Slightly.
Progression builds capacity without triggering overwhelm.
This mirrors strength training:
You don’t bench press 120kg on day one.
You add weight as your nervous system adapts.
5. Protect Emotional Neutrality
Wiggle works best without drama.
Not:
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“Why is this happening to me?”
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“I can’t believe this.”
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“This is unfair.”
But:
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“This is the current reality.”
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“What is the next executable action?”
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“Move.”
Emotion fuels reaction.
Neutrality fuels progress.
The Maverick Identity Shift
Here is the most important part.
Wiggle is not just about solving problems.
It reshapes identity.
Each small completion builds internal evidence:
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I act under pressure.
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I move when others freeze.
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I reduce complexity.
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I finish what I start.
That is how an Everyday Maverick is formed.
Not through dramatic breakthroughs.
Through disciplined micro-movement under constraint.
Science Supports the Strategy
Research in behavioral psychology, habit formation, and performance science consistently confirms:
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Action reduces anxiety more effectively than rumination.
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Small wins increase motivation.
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Consistent repetition builds neural efficiency.
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Incremental progress outperforms sporadic intensity.
The brain prefers movement to stagnation.
Wiggle works because it aligns with how the nervous system is designed.
The Tutorial: Anyone Can Do This
You don’t need:
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High IQ
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Special talent
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Massive capital
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Perfect conditions
You need:
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Awareness of paralysis
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Willingness to act small
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Commitment to repeat
That’s it.
Everyday Mavericks are not extraordinary because life is easy for them.
They are extraordinary because they move when movement is uncomfortable.
The Final Reframe
Being stuck is not a verdict.
It is a signal.
And the signal is simple:
Move something.
Start with the little toe.
Then the foot.
Then the leg.
Then the body.
Freedom does not arrive dramatically.
It accumulates incrementally.
Wiggle is not a metaphor anymore.
It is a Maverick strategy — tested, repeatable, and neurologically sound.
And anyone can use it.
Read More: The Science and Philosophy Behind Wiggle
The Wiggle strategy aligns with established research in neuroscience, behavioral psychology, leadership theory, and faith-based personal development. The following works explore these principles from different angles.
Neuroscience & Behavioral Research
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LeDoux, Joseph — The Emotional Brain
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Sapolsky, Robert — Why Zebras Don’t Get Ulcers
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Amabile, Teresa & Kramer, Steven — The Progress Principle
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Doidge, Norman — The Brain That Changes Itself
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Duhigg, Charles — The Power of Habit
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Clear, James — Atomic Habits
Cognitive Renewal & Thought Leadership
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Dr. Caroline Leaf — Switch On Your Brain
Faith, Identity & Leadership Development
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Myles Munroe — Understanding Your Potential
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T.D. Jakes — Instinct
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