#2024 Reset: How's Your Bounce Back Game?
A valuable lesson I have learned in hosting Women’s Transformation Circles and welcoming women of all cultures, races, ethnicities, and generations is that we are all going through similar experiences when our differences are removed from the conversation. That’s the intention of providing safe spaces for all of us to be reminded that we are not alone in this world.
The Bounce Back Culture is a reality of modern-day life for women of all cultures and economic statuses. You may initially think of the “bounce back” of moms after having their babies. That’s a popular social media trend and conversation in recent years. But what about the decades and generations of women who have had to bounce back from more pressing matters than losing baby fat quickly?
Generations of women have had to bounce back from toxic, dysfunctional, and abusive home environments and workplaces. Women of all ethnicities bounce back after losing a child, a parent, or a spouse. The list of realities that women have had to bounce back from for generations is vast and expansive. My point is to highlight this fact: getting up every single day and going about the lives, roles, and expectations of being women in this world is a bounce back for every one of us from sun up to sun down. As the world turns, our bounce-back game has to be on point.
"Your story is what you have, what you will always have. It is something to own."
~ Michelle Obama
I say let’s normalize not just the self-care that is required to bounce back from childbirth but also everyday life. Bouncing back is about recovery. It’s about acknowledging—not denying—the effects and leftover residue of setbacks, difficulties, disappointments, and challenges. It’s about the skill and ability to regain strength, confidence, hope, focus, and well-being after these difficult experiences. All women of all cultures have to bounce back, but just like in every other aspect of life, women from marginalized communities experience more systemic barriers and societal challenges that add additional layers of resistance to successful bouncebacks. It’s time for us to own this.
Life is never easy and it is never intended to be so hopeless that it’s no longer worth living. In our abilities and strengths, maybe so, but with God’s full intention for our existence in this world, there’s always a reason for living and hoping. There’s always an inkling of a reason to bounce back, no matter how small.
How does this apply to our current conversation?
We have hit the halfway point of 2024. We have as many days ahead of us in 2024 as we have behind us.
I encourage you to take the time this month to join me in a review, refresh, and refocus. Six months is plenty of time to still see a year like you’ve never seen before—in a positive way, of course. This month, let’s talk about assessing the past six months and resetting for the next six.
Because we are imperfect beings living imperfect lives, let’s own the fact that we’ve dropped the ball somewhere, somehow. Let’s breathe life into our new year hopes and dreams for 2024. Let’s shift our focus away from where we’ve fallen off and get back on track, no matter what that track is, because it’s different for each of us.
Now that we’ve laid out a full understanding of what bouncing back is, looks like, and feels like, let’s talk about how to actually do it!
Practical Tips and Techniques for Bouncing Back:
1. Acknowledge Your Feelings:
If you can’t be real with yourself, how can you keep it real with anyone else?
Accept that it's okay to feel hurt, disappointed, or frustrated. Acknowledging your emotions is the first step towards healing.
Journaling can help you process your emotions and understand them better. Download our FREE 14 Days to Self-Discovery Coaching Workbook to assist you in this journey.
Remember, you MUST know where you are to ensure you’re on your right path. The keyword here is “YOUR” right path, not the one thrust on you by others.
2. Set Small, Achievable Goals:
Not just to-do lists and dreams but actual steps. One foot in front of the other. One day at a time. One brick at a time. Forward only, Sis!
Start with small steps that are easy to accomplish. This helps build momentum and provides a sense of accomplishment.
Break larger goals into smaller tasks to make them more manageable.
Reverse engineer: settle on where you want to end 2024 and then work your way backward. Who do you need to become and what do you need to do to get there? Map your path. Align your thoughts. Choose your words and priorities wisely.
3. Seek Support:
Community requires cultivation! Now is a perfect time to reassess who is adding to your journey and who is hindering it. What better time to initiate boundaries than right now today?
Surround yourself with supportive friends, family, or mentors who can offer encouragement and advice.
Consider joining support groups or communities where you can share experiences and gain insights from others. Global Women’s Transformation Collective is a great community to start forging those connections!
4. Practice Self-Care:
HOLISTIC Self-Care. Not just your body but your mind, your spirit, your soul.
Prioritize activities that rejuvenate and energize you, whether it’s a hobby, exercise, or relaxation techniques. Girl - get some hobbies!
Ensure you are getting enough rest, eating well, and engaging in activities that promote mental and physical health. Make yourself a priority.
5. Learn from Setbacks:
The key to bouncing back doesn’t need to be desperation or obligation. It needs to be intentional and committed.
Reflect on what went wrong and identify lessons learned. Use these insights to make better decisions in the future.
Embrace setbacks as opportunities for growth and learning rather than failures. John Maxwell says, “Fail forward.”
6. Maintain a Positive Mindset:
Not just some BS faux positivity. Actual positivity is filled with faith, hope, intention, and love for life.
Focus on positive affirmations and visualize successful outcomes.
Replace negative thoughts with constructive ones and practice gratitude daily. Gratitude is the key!
Humbling ourselves before our Lord God is a surefire way to be reminded of why we should be grateful and filled with hope and intention.
7. Stay Flexible:
The world around us is forever changing. The only constant is change. Leave any resistance to change in the first half of 2024.
Be open to adjusting your plans and strategies as needed. Flexibility allows you to adapt to changing circumstances.
Understand that setbacks are often temporary and keep moving forward despite obstacles.
8. Focus on What You Can Control:
YOU are the only common denominator in your everyday existence that you can control.
Concentrate your efforts on areas where you can make a difference and let go of things beyond your control.
This helps reduce feelings of helplessness and increases your sense of agency.
I know this all feels like a tall order and can even feel overwhelming. I get that 100%, but my sister, what is the alternative? Another “Groundhog Day” year where you relive the same year over again? Life is going to be hard either way. Life is going to be challenging. You’re going to have to bounce back anyway. Why not do so in a way that leads you along the path of fulfillment instead of dread and misery?
The choice is yours. You can get with this or you can get with that. (If you know, you know.)
If you choose the bounce back that will bring about a year like one you’ve never seen before, then stay with me this month as we find the strength and power within to cooperate with transformation. With the right personal strategies, we can breathe life into our days and empowerment into our steps.
You know as a coach, I love offering questions for deeper reflection and thought. I encourage you to normalize peeking below the surface.
Coaching Questions for Reflection:
1. How do you typically react to setbacks?
Consider your usual response to difficulties. Are there patterns or habits that you could change to improve your resilience?
2. What small steps can you take today to start bouncing back from a recent setback?
Identify practical, achievable actions that you can implement immediately to begin your recovery process.
3. Who in your support network can you reach out to for encouragement and advice?
Think about the people in your life who can offer support. How can you engage with them to help you through tough times?
4. What lessons have you learned from past challenges that can help you navigate future ones?
Reflect on the insights and strengths you've gained from previous experiences. How can these lessons guide you moving forward?
5. How can you reframe a recent setback to see it as an opportunity for growth?
Practice looking at challenges from a different perspective. What positive outcomes or opportunities can arise from this situation?
6. What areas of your life are within your control, and how can you focus your efforts there?
Focus on the aspects of your life where you have influence. What actions can you take to make a positive impact?
7. What positive affirmation or mantra can you use to maintain a hopeful mindset during tough times?
Choose a positive affirmation or mantra that resonates with you. How can you incorporate it into your daily routine to stay motivated?
Next week we’ll focus on the next step, which is the refresh and refocus. For now, let’s locate where we are on the map so we can see how far off course we may be. Join me on Friday for our weekly check-in to talk about our journeys. Listen to my podcast on Saturday at 10 am for techniques to effectively bounce back and reset for the rest of 2024.
For now…
Know. Love. & Be. Transformed.
