I have been watching “Abbott Elementary” and in one of the first episodes, Gregory tells Janine, a fellow teacher, that he’s just going to stop trying and she responds with, “What do you mean you’re going to stop trying? You’re taking a break or…?” And he tries to explain it to her, but Janine has never even entertained the idea of not trying at anything. She points out that his students like him, so he should keep trying for them.
I thought this was such a poignant moment because for anyone who is trying to accomplish a goal, you get knocked down. Repeatedly. And it’s brutal. Or, you don’t get knocked down at all, it’s a slow fall. And both are inherent in the cycles and processes of life, whether you try or not. It’s the getting back up and trying again, just as Chumbawamba taught us with their 90s anthem, “Tubthumping.”
I am a lot like Janine. I can’t help but try. I enjoy working toward my goals and trying to figure out the puzzle of success. However, I do take breaks, and schedule in naps as needed. I recently saw an artist on Instagram say that she’s going to stop chasing her dreams, and take things slower. Because whatever is meant for her, will happen. And that is my philosophy as well. Sometimes I need to make more art or do an administrative task, but sometimes I also just need to take a break and do something fun. And isn’t fun the key to enjoying being alive?
Additionally, another key to being alive is the ability to embrace rejection. The more rejections you get, the closer you are to a yes. So, try to rack up as many rejections as possible. The law of averages will eventually prevail. That’s why the getting up after getting knocked down is so important. It puts you in the perfect position for the next best thing. I was listening to the Financial Feminist podcast with guest Mimi Bouchard of Superhuman Activations. She mentioned her bounce back rate. A bounce back rate is how long it takes you to course correct after you slip back into a bad habit, for example, or experience rejection. Negative things will happen, and you will need time to process them. The idea is to create a quicker bounce back rate, so that you can experience the setback and regroup. Everyone’s bounce back rate is different, just as everyone’s journey is different. Some take a little longer than others, and that’s okay. The point is to keep trying.
