Rebounding. Key component in basketball, relationships, and of course... play. Come find out why we need it, what we can do with it, and even how we learn it.
I think we all know that there is rebounding in living. We have to develop certain things from childhood on. We have to learn that life has disappointments, we can’t be invited to every party, friends move away or move schools, sometimes we are treated unfairly by someone we know well, or we have to be able to deal and cope with general disappointments in life.
Here is a link to the book referenced in the podcast:
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.ca/authors/54848/rick-newman
INTRO: You’re listening to the Art of Play Podcast. This podcast is about play. Not just childhood play, all play. This podcast is exploring play as a means of not just being better adults, but better, well-rounded humans.
Happy Friday everybody!! I hope the last days of your July are just swell. I know my ankles are super swollen in the heat, so maybe that was a really bad use of the word swell, but, that is neither here nor there.
Today we are going to talk about Rebounding. This week and next week will be the last in a four part series of podcast episodes I have been creating about the attributes play carries on and up into adulthood for us. Next week we are talking about Culture, and then we will begin a series of creative interviews, which have been so fun, and I can’t wait to share some of the amazing people that I have been interviewing. You will love them! Until then, you get me, and my research and my ramble of thoughts.
Okay, rebounding. I grew up in a basketball family, and rebounding is something I heard a lot about. As I got older, I heard about rebound relationships, and then there is even a Pixar short about Rebounding. The most I have thought about rebounding is after having babies too, but that is neither a topic for today, or relevant as my views on body image don’t apply to this particular viewpoint.
Just as a quick rundown, we will talk about rebounding, then I will talk about the research around it, and then give you some tips for adopting it.
Rebounding. In basketball rebounding is essential. Without it you miss out on the opportunity to make more shots in quicker succession, thus giving you the opportunity to win faster. In the Pixar short there is a sheep that is shorn for his lovely wool, and he is then made fun of for his pink skin showing through, he is then taught a lesson by a jackalope that when life gets you down, if you wallow it doesn’t fix anything, but if you find your grit to try again, you end up with the rebound that can be a wonderful life lived, no matter if there are laughing gophers. Okay, so life is not like a pixar short, no matter how charming, but rebounding in life is a product of our resilience.
Rebounding is considered a recovery, or a bounce-back. It references, value, possession, strength, gains, and redirection. All of these things that we value in times of crisis. Rebounding is also something that is a diversion from the original plan. The original plan of the basketball shot was to go through the net, instead it needed to be rebounded and redirected to another shot. The original plan of the pixar sheep was to not get shorn, and keep his lovely mounds of wool. The rebound of a relationship is a redirection in quick succession. Some rebounds are not productive, but it does not mean that they don’t come with loads of learning.
The research around rebounding is fascinating to me. A physical rebound builds the resiliency of your body in ways that are fundamental in creating a strong physical base. For example: jumping on a trampoline gives vital feedback to the systems in your body. Your vestibular system (remember episode 21 or maybe 22 where I went over how the vestibular system) is developed through jumping and moving in irregular patterns, your large muscle groups are exercised and conditioned to respond to the jumping, your heart benefits, and your immune system can get a boost because the lymphatic system in your body get a physical push. It’s hardwired into your muscle code to need physical rebounding.
Mental rebounding is a much more nuanced and complicated venture for research. Resilience is harder to measure, but there is a fascinating book by Rick Newman and he lays out the history of recognizing and measuring the ability for people to rebound and then gives so many wonderful outlines for how to learn to rebound. One fascinating thing Mr. Newman points out is that in order to develop resiliency you need adversity. There is a correlation between people who experience many scenarios of adversity in their lives, and people who experience none, and that is both parties have a high level of mental health issues. People who have had little adversities in their lives have a harder time coping with being resilient enough to rebound after setbacks large and small. The same goes for people who have a disproportionately high number of adverse experiences. They have a harder time recovering from setbacks. Turns out we are all like a baby bird hatching. You know how you should not help a baby bird hatch from their egg, because they need the hardwiring they learn through breaking out of their shell. We all need moderate amounts of adversity to grow our resilience. Turns out that is the healthiest way to grow.
Now, in the same book Mr. Newman lays out that researchers believe that 1 out of 3 people are born with more resilient tendencies, why that is probably is another ten studies, but he is quickness’s to point out that it doesn’t matter, because resiliency is something we all can learn, use and flex as we grow. And that does not end at the end of childhood. That is a muscle we can keep growing and modifying. It is a skill available to all of us at any given time.
Okay, so now, how do we get the rebounders mentality? How do we learn to rebound? The same way a basketball star needs to learn. We have to notice when we can use that skill, we have to practice that skill, and we have to embrace the environments that is offered. A study was done measuring the mental states of some top executives at an early version of AT&T. Coincidentally, while following these executives, AT&T had one of the first massive corporate layoffs in the United States. There were thousands of people who lost jobs due to the monopoly being broken up and restructured. Researchers decided to measure and track the mental and emotional progress of those same executives laid off. Of the executives that were successful regardless of if they stayed or not, the ones who best succeeded did three things: they stayed committed to their original job, and kept their focus. They avoided fault finding and gossiping about what was happening or would happen at the company. They also, believed they had control over their circumstances, and didn’t wallow in powerlessness, and finally they viewed any expected change as a fresh opportunity.
I think we all know that there is resilience in living. We have to develop certain things from childhood on. We have to learn that life has disappointments, we can’t be invited to every party, friends move away or move schools, sometimes we are treated unfairly by someone we know well, or we have to be able to deal and cope with general disappointments in life. This is normal, fine and actually cues us up for the bigger problems, trials, and troubles in later life. We have done it before, we can do it again.
I will say that looking back at childhood, and then again with free eyes on past life experience, There are a few things that have helped build my resilience IN THE MIDDLE of adversity. Those are: Honest, open communication. Empathy and support. Positive emotional outlets. And a healthy work/life/play balance.
So to recap: To build resilience keep your eye on the prize. Stay committed to the control you have over your perception of the circumstance, and recognize that unexpected change brings fresh opportunity. Remembering all the time that innovation and creativity can only happen in the cross-flow of vulnerability and risk. If you are not use to using your rebounding resilience your creativity and innovation are the first things to suffer.
Alright, I have talked long enough today, but I want to recap really quick. First, you evolved from rebounding back from problems and adversity. It’s in your blood. Second, research says you are already a level of resilient that you may not know until you’re tested. Third, research also says its never too late to learn to rebound better. You are more resilient than you know. Happy weekend guys.
This podcast is fueled by my family’s mission at the Oliver Fund. We send playthings to children in hardship all over the world. Because we believe to have the ability to work hard there is value in playing well. It’s a part of our personal family creed. You can find out more online at the oliver fund .org or on social media at The Oliver Fund and AT ART of PLAY PODCAST.
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OUTRO: Here’s to leaving you to your weekend a little more hopeful and hopefully more happily playful, if only for five minutes.
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.ca/books/210134/rebounders-by-rick-newman/9780345527851/excerpt
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychological_resilience#Children