The Elements of Success

Andrew
3 days ago
6 min read

Updated: 14 hours ago

Over the years, I have noticed that there are certain people who improve really rapidly.

They come and see me with problems not dissimilar to those of others, but within a small number of sessions, they come to me and report that they are no longer in need of my services. They have either reached their goals or they have a clear path toward them and are making steady progress.

What do these people have in common?

You might have an image of these individuals in your mind. Perhaps you see them as all young people with uncomplicated medical and surgical histories. Perhaps you see them as lifelong athletes, born of lifelong athletes, with generations spanning back to ancient Athens.

But perhaps surprisingly, these characteristics do not adequately describe this population of rapid-improvers, who span all age ranges and levels of medical complexity.

That’s not to say that these individuals do not share certain characteristics. Because they do. But these characteristics may not be the most obvious or expected ones.

What they do all share, I have come to dub the Elements of Success.

There are 4 key elements.

The Elements of Success

The beauty of the Elements of Success is that they are all what are known as modifiable factors. In contrast to non-nodifiable factors like age, genetics, past experiences, etc., modifiable factors are factors that we have some level of control over. They are factors that we can practice, cultivate, and bring forth.

This is great news because it means that if you see something that strikes a chord, you can practice it and improve upon it.

Let’s dive into what these factors are that make the rapid-improvers improve so rapidly.

Along the way, I’ll provide you with simple tips and resources that you can implement to share the habits of the rapid-improvers.

1. Healthy Lifestyle

Perhaps one of the more obvious elements is a healthy lifestyle. This may have been something that you initially thought of when you envisioned this group of rapid-improvers.

This term certainly gets tossed around a lot these days. But what does living a healthy lifestyle actually look like? How do the rapid-improvers live a healthy lifestyle?

Let’s break this down to the absolute fundamentals that the rapid-improvers share.

1. Eating well. They eat more fresh, whole foods and fewer processed foods.

This doesn’t mean that they never eat junk. But the centerpiece of the rapid-improvers’ diet is fresh, whole foods.

Tips & Resources:

Track your food intake for 1 week using this tracker
Introduce 1 new, fresh food to your daily meals each week for 6 weeks
Do the 800-gram challenge

2. Moving often. They incorporate movement into their everyday routines.

Some of them walk, some of them bike, some swim, some surf, some stretch or do yoga, some lift weights; most do a combination of things. But for all of them, movement is simply a part of their life. It’s a daily occurrence in one form or another.

Tips & Resources:

Choose 1 new movement habit (eg, walking, running, cycling) and use this tracker to track it

3. Recovery. They rest, sleep, and manage stress.

The rapid-improvers recognize that part of living a healthy lifestyle includes recovery. So they take rest when they need it. They prioritize sleep and work on their sleep habits when necessary. They manage their stress levels by reducing things that increase stress, and they have methods for reducing stress when it becomes a problem.

Tips & Resources:

Track your sleep habits for 1 week using this tracker
Take stock of areas of your life that may contribute to stress using this worksheet
Create a list of activities that reduce your stress levels by filling out this worksheet

2. Social/Community Engagement

This could easily fall under living a healthy lifestyle, but it really warrants its own category based on how important it really is.

The rapid-improvers know this. They know how important it is to have social support, connect with other people, have purpose, and engage with the community.

This element falls into what some call social determinants of health, which are suggested by research models to contribute in a massive way to health outcomes.

But it also just makes sense, doesn’t it?

Think for a moment: how do you feel, how motivated are you, and how likely are you to make wise and healthy decisions when you…

Feel heard, listened to, and supported by those around you?
Have a purpose in life, especially one that is bigger than yourself?
Feel connected to your community and those around you?

These social factors form a solid foundation that the rapid-improvers use to blast off in their recovery pursuits.

Tips & Resources

Set aside some time each week to call or visit with a loved one. Someone who you feel connected to and supported by.
Attend a local event in your area related to something you are interested in.
- To find one, visit your local government website, look for bulletin boards around town, or check Meetup.com.

3. Mindset

While the first two factors take a little digging to uncover, these last two factors are perhaps the most tangible factors that are present when I encounter one of these rapid-improvers. They are palpable each and every time I meet with one of these individuals.

The rapid-improvers possess certain qualities of mind that make them especially adept at rapidly moving through the rehabilitation/recovery process and toward their goals.

They are:

1. Curiosity. These individuals are exceptionally curious. They are interested in understanding what’s going on, learning about their bodies, and they pay attention to the details during the rehabilitation process.

A big part of being curious is having an open mind. It is a realization that we don’t know everything (and perhaps even that we never can), coupled with an interest in learning more.

2. Willingness to experiment. When we are truly curious, the natural next step is to be willing to experiment. The rapid-improvers really shine here. They are ready to test things out, to investigate, and even to make mistakes for the sake of learning and recovery. They can be very bold in this way.

3. Self-compassion. The rapid-improvers realize that in their experiments and pursuits, things won’t always go as intended.

When things go awry, the rapid-improvers maintain a friendly attitude toward themselves. They minimize berating themselves or beating themselves up. They realize that mistakes are really only mistakes if we don’t learn from them.

4. Commitment. The rapid-improvers recognize that learning and growth are a process that requires commitment. They are willing and able to keep going during the difficult times and the uncertain times, making any necessary adjustments along the way. They proceed with steadfast commitment to themselves and the process of recovery.

Tips & Resources:

Write one of the aspects above that you would like to adopt on a sticky note, along with a short explanation about what it will look or feel like (eg, Be Curious. Keep an open mind). Place the sticky note somewhere that you will see it.

4. Positive Beliefs & Expectations

Similar to Element #2, this element could easily fall under the previous element, but it’s important enough to make it its own element.

This is perhaps the most obvious characteristic of the rapid-improvers. I see it on their face when we first meet. I hear it in their tone of voice and the words they speak.

These individuals believe in the healing capacity of the body and in their ability to reach their goals. In other words. They have a positive expectation of recovery.

This, by the way, has been shown the be the biggest single predictor of clinical success:

positive expectation of recovery.

This is something that all of the rapid-improvers share. They are overflowing with it. They expect to recover, or at the very least to significantly improve and reach their goals.

But what does recovery mean?

Well, it means different things to different people. And these individuals—the rapid-improvers—know what they want.

They know exactly what it looks like, what it feels like, and how to spot it when it arrives.

They look for signs of change and evidence that they are moving in the right direction.

Tips & Resources:

Get clear on your goals using this goals worksheet
Track your progress toward your goals using this goal tracker

Your Unique Elements

While it can be helpful to read about, ponder, and implement some of these elements, it’s also important to realize that these are not the only elements of success.

You undoubtedly possess some unique elements of success. Elements that are specific to you, your strengths, your skills, your experiences, and your goals.

So while you may practice being more curious, setting clear goals, and eating more veggies, you can also explore and expand upon your own unique blend of elements.

It is perhaps the combination of these that can result in the greatest success and rapidity of change.

To your success,

Andrew