BY: ALVA POLETTI
I usually refrain from using the term 'Successful' due to its negative connotation to hustle culture, money-making, and toxic perfectionism. However, I struggle to find a better word to convey the idea. Success holds varied meanings for different individuals; for some, it may equate to a specific amount of money in their bank account, while others define it through health, relationships, or experiences. Regardless, there's a common trait among successful people—an art they've perfected. Though mastering this craft may not be easy, the principle is simple.
As I often say, adopting new habits or achieving meaningful change involves three steps: first, knowing; second, understanding what you know; and lastly, applying what you've understood. This article aims to assist you in knowing and understanding the powerful tool called the 'Bounce Back Rate,' a term coined by one of my favorite motivation and wellness entrepreneurs, Mimi Bouchard, founder of the Superhuman App. However, it's up to you to apply it in order to reach your goals.
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Progress is not linear and success doesn't come over night. This is true even for those conventionally labeled as successful. Bearing this in mind, it's crucial to recognize that straying from the path is inevitable on the route to achieving your goals. The determinant of your success isn't the frequency of your deviations from the path but rather how quickly you regain your course. The concept of the 'Bounce Back Rate' refers to the speed with which you rediscover your path or rise after a fall. Initially, your BBR might span months, yet akin to any other muscle, it can be strengthened. With time, your BBR may dwindle to weeks, days, minutes, or even seconds.
Consider this scenario: you've committed to a week of healthy eating, but by Wednesday lunch, you succumb to cravings, deviating from your plan. A person with a short BBR easily returns to the healthy meal plan by dinner, while someone with a slightly slower BBR might deem the day ruined, opting to continue unhealthy eating for the remainder of the day. Some individuals have a BBR so slow that they grapple for weeks or even months to return to the original plan after a minor deviation. This pattern often becomes apparent when people dive into intense exercise routines in January, burn out after four weeks, and don't return to the gym until September. Similarly, it can explain why some individuals find it immensely challenging to embark on a job search after for example being fired.
Now, I find that the primary reason many individuals find it challenging to bounce back is the profound self-disappointment stemming from too high expectations. I firmly believe that elevating your BBR hinges on cultivating self-compassion. Yet, practicing self-compassion doesn't mean choosing to remain inert in the mud after stumbling; it involves granting yourself grace for the misstep all the while loving yourself enough to rise up and dust yourself off. The quicker you become adept at this, the faster you'll progress towards your goals.
Lastly, I would like to underscore that the 'Bounce Back Rate' is relevant only when you have a clear goal in mind. The way I see it, veering off a path or falling from a ladder is only possible when there's a defined goal you aim to reach. Echoing the wisdom of the Cheshire Cat, "If you don't know where you want to go, it doesn't matter which road you choose."
With those wise words, I've nothing left to say but - Over n' out, peeps!
Source: Walt Disney's "Alice in Wonderland" (1951)