"Big Wins & Minimal Setbacks"

*** Disclaimer: Any stories, citations, or information for or about specific clients is given with their permission and explicit consent. ***

I’m sure you’re familiar with the quote “Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you’ll land amongst the stars.” This statement represents one side of the spectrum that I want to address. If I had to come up with a quote to signify the other side of the spectrum it would be…Let’s see… “Aim to land amongst the stars, but flap and fall towards that tree over there just in case!?!?” See, the same way that we can set our sights high to increase the probability of a considerably good outcome is the same way that we can set ourselves up for a “not as bad as it could’ve been” outcome. The good thing about these two sides is that they typically exist together in tandem as opposed to being one or the other. I can best explain this concept by sharing with you a conversation I had with a client this week. They were happy for me to share this exchange with you.

The text thread read….

Me: Travel safely and stay mindful of your wellness vision.

Client: Lol…No cheat weekend?

Me: (GIF with some dude saying “I don’t want you to go cray cray” followed by a laughing emoji)

Me: But, nah, seriously. It’s levels to everything. 1 slice of pie is better than 3 slices and 3 slices are better than 5. We’re bouncing back regardless but try not to make your wellness journey more taxing on yourself than it must be. If that makes sense.

Client: Def does…. lol… one piece of pound cake.

Me: Lol That’s totally up to you. But I would tell myself no pieces of pound cake. Best case scenario: You rise to the challenge and take an impactful step forward that will catapult your confidence into an upward spiral. Worst case scenario: You have 1 or 2 pieces over the weekend. Not “extremely” bad. Now, telling yourself to only have one piece? Best-case scenario: You achieve that goal and still build confidence. The worst-case scenario is the probability that you'll have 2 or more pieces. 

End thread.

So, the idea here is to always consider the size of the win and the size of the setback. We want BIG wins and minimal setbacks. The reality though is that this involves a level of mind trickery. Your discipline and self-efficacy will ultimately be the deciding factor in the outcome of this scenario. However, the difference between the two goals is that one requires a higher level of self-confidence by default. Expecting yourself to completely avoid the bad decision is you practicing the ability to believe that you can do so. If you fail, ok. This is what practice is for. Keep practicing and eventually, you’ll see growth and improvement. Even on the low end, which is where the minimal setbacks come into play. The floor of the attic is higher than the floor of the basement. 

We can still apply this and remain realistic. I advise not trying to jump from level 1 to level 10 in one bounce. Instead, be eager to reach only the next level up with challenges and practices. Then the next and the next. One day you’ll look down and be amazed at how far you’ve come. Be well.