Cultivating a Bounce Back Mindset
January can be a difficult time for many of us when it comes to wellness. We’re coming down off the high of the holidays. It’s dark and cold. We may have just eaten our entire way through December and feel sluggish from the extra weight we put on. Depression may be setting in.
There are ways to handle it, and then there are ways to handle it. I want to talk briefly here about what it means to bounce back.
We have all experienced adversity at one time or another. That’s part and parcel of living. At some point during those experiences, though, there is inevitably a moment when we get to choose how we are going to respond. We can lie flat, letting the experience run over us, or we can bounce. Sometimes lying flat is the only or best option, but almost always there is a way to bounce, and what I mean by that is that you can land softly, learn from the experience, change course, and take action in ways that will make a positive impact on your life.
So, how do you do that? Bouncing is a mindset, and one that we are all capable of adopting. You just need to draw on some of the mental tools and strengths you already have, such as:
Self-compassion: To make that soft landing, you will need this in spades. It’s ok if you are having a tough time. It’s ok if you ate too many cookies, and it’s ok if you didn’t exercise enough. You are human and everyone falls off the wagon occasionally. Give yourself a hug. You need it now more than ever.
Optimism: Remember that things can always get better. Everything is temporary, including difficulty, and you will get through this.
Ownership: Know that you have the power to make any changes you need. You are in control of your own destiny. You can make a difference in your life if you own the process and take decisive action.
Curiosity: Try looking at your situation from an analytical viewpoint. Ask the big questions. What are you needing? What’s missing from your life? What do you want your life to be like? What can you draw on from past experiences that can get you where you want to go?
Creativity: While you consider how to move forward, you may need to think outside the box. Brainstorm a little. Let the ideas flow without any inhibition. Take a long walk and let your mind wander. The best ideas may just come to you out of the blue.
Strategic Thinking: Once you have an idea of what you want to do to move forward, take time to figure out how to do it. What will your timeline be? What supplies will you need? Who will you need to get on board with your plan? What obstacles might you face and how will you get around them?
Approaching your problems from this perspective you can get back in your wellness saddle more easily, and maybe even better than you were before you dropped off it. One of the gifts of adversity is that it gives you the freedom to really change things up. A clean slate can be immensely freeing. If you bounce back this month, who knows how far you can go.