Step#5 Bounce back

Life throws curveballs at everyone. No matter how well we plan, we are always going to have surprises. What differentiates pros from beginners in goals? Pros know this will happen. They anticipate this and have a clear plan for bouncing back, coming out stronger on the other side. 

Life can take unexpected turns: a job loss, a loss in the family, health challenges, or financial setbacks. Challenges in life are like resistance training, they build resilience muscles. Weak muscles in one area may affect or impact other areas. For example, your first marathon plan may need to be revisited if you have health challenges or lose your job due to downsizing. I’m not saying it has to, but it’s prudent to be open to this possibility. 

When you’re not open, you’re in denial and that will decrease your overall life satisfaction. It’s a test of your persistence. You may take a detour or pause, but you don’t need to stop.

The most common mistake I have seen people make is this: not acknowledging that we have a situation to address. People turn a blind eye to problems and continue pushing through their goals. This is like trying to blow out an electric bulb; it’s wasted effort. Contrary to popular opinion, this will fire back. 

I have personally experienced this. When I was planning to sign up for a marathon, I had already run several half marathons. I experienced severe calf pain on long runs after two hours of running. My physiotherapist recommended postponing the marathon goal. I followed his advice. It was the right decision at the time. I would have injured myself otherwise due to overtraining. So, the first step is acknowledging challenges and making changes to your goal.

Once you decide to make changes to your goal by changing time, intensity, or defining subgoals, you gain clarity on what to pursue instead of the original goal. 

In my case, I continued to be fit through non-running workouts and weight training. My focus shifted toward recovery, building aerobic capacity, and increasing flexibility. I continued to prepare for the marathon goal, doing the basic work needed until I was ready for a longer race. With this plan, I was still making progress, small and steady, slowly getting ready for a bigger milestone. 

As you do this, keep an eye on the best time to bounce back to the original path. The path patiently waits for you. It doesn’t go anywhere. You are the one who stepped off for a reason. When you go back on the path, the path will welcome you with open arms. You can start where you left off.

Develop a ramp-up plan so that you don’t get flustered with increased commitment when you bounce back. It’s like loading the weight incrementally while doing bench presses. 

Mastering this bounce-back process is a critical skill in goal achievement. You need to accept it and above all, expect this to happen. 

It happens to everyone. Remember: it’s a test. You can pause and plan to respond well during the slowdown. In a matter of time, you’ll be back in the arena chasing your goal.

“Life is not about how fast you run or how high you climb, but how well you bounce.” - Vivian Komori