3 questions to ask yourself after a setback

“Why can’t I stick with anything?” “All that work was for nothing.” “I blew it!” It’s normal to tell yourself stories like these after a setback—and for them to lead to a not-so-happy ending for your goals. So next time, ask yourself these questions to change the narrative so you can continue writing new chapters.

1. What are my thoughts right now?

Pay attention to the story you’re telling yourself.

“Ugh, I’m going to miss my step goal again—I just can’t stick with anything. Why bother?”

2. How do those thoughts make me feel—and what’s their impact?

Are they causing you to lose confidence? Feel down or uninspired? How might that play out?

“Focusing on this setback makes me frustrated and doubt myself. It could lead me to give up.”

3. How can I shift the story?

Get curious; think about how you could respond in a way that inspires you.

“I’ll remind myself that one ‘off’ day doesn’t mean game over, then plan when I’ll walk tomorrow, ask a friend to join me, and set out my gear tonight.”

Let’s dive a little deeper…

Ever find yourself way off track, like skipping your usual activity a few days in a row, hardly paying attention to your Points®Budget, or just not as invested in your journey and not sure how you got there or what happened? Chances are it started with an unchecked unhelpful thought.

What we think drives what we do, so it’s easy for our thoughts after a setback to snowball into actions—or inaction as is often the case. But by first paying attention when those unhelpful thoughts start to creep in and recognising their potential impact, you can make a conscious effort to rethink things and break the chain reaction. The goal: Accept the situation and your thoughts, but also not let them take over and wreak havoc on your confidence, momentum, or journey.

So many of our thoughts are automatic and often go unnoticed. So it might feel challenging at first to pay attention and try to respond in new ways. Be patient and kind to yourself, but keep practising that awareness and curiosity. It will serve you well at every stage of the journey.