How to Be Better: Follow the Bouncing Ball

Introduction

If I dropped a ball from the first floor, your brain would instantly calculate, with surprising accuracy, where it would bounce next.

It’s physics, sure, but it’s also incredible how quickly your mind creates patterns and predictions with minimal information.

This innate ability—pattern recognition—is what we’ll explore today.?

Context: Why Following the Ball Matters

"Following the bouncing ball" is a concept I use to help find clarity in both my life and for those I coach and mentor.

When you take a moment to observe, you give yourself the chance to capture and better understand situations, whether simple or complex.

For instance:

• Someone makes a passing comment, and you quickly piece together what it means.
• An important client starts to pull away, and you can’t figure out why.
• Your team’s energy shifts after a recent change, but you can't quite pinpoint the cause.

These moments call for a pause and follow the bouncing ball.

Story Time: Missing the Signs

This concept applies not just to business or sports but also on a deeply personal level.

I remember a past relationship where I failed to see the warning signs—those subtle "red flags" of incompatibility. I was so "zoomed in" that I missed the hints of discomfort that eventually led to our breakup.

I was too close to the situation—and perhaps too stubborn to recognise the pattern forming right in front of me.

The Psychology Behind It: Seeing the Patterns

Our brains are wired for pattern recognition—it’s how we’ve survived as a species.?

But in today’s fast-moving world, we often override this natural ability. We react instead of observe. We respond instead of reflect.

The art of following the bouncing ball is about returning to this innate skill, allowing you to see what’s really happening beneath the surface. Searching for clues.?

The Power of Questions: A Lesson from Science

Recently, I asked a friend—a structural biologist—if "a good question is better than the right answer."

Her response? Fascinating.

From a scientific perspective, she explained, good questions drive discovery and push boundaries. They lead to answers, which in turn spark even more questions. She challenged my premise in an interesting way - suggesting that questions and answers aren't in competition, they're partners in understanding.

This shifted my perspective.

?Here's what really struck me: Following the bouncing ball isn’t just about finding answers—it’s about learning to ask better questions.

When you observe a situation carefully, you start asking different questions:

• Instead of “Why is this happening to me?” ask, “What pattern am I missing?”
• Instead of “How do I fix this?” ask, “What is this teaching me?”

Sometimes, acknowledging uncertainty is the most powerful step forward.

How to Follow the Ball: The Power of Observation

When pressure builds, the best reaction is often inaction. Step back. Zoom out.

Here’s how to do it:

1. Pause and capture your thoughts.
2. Don’t fight your feelings—acknowledge them.
3. Process without judgment.
4. Regain control of your wandering mind.

?Observation provides context before acting.

It’s like appreciating a beautiful painting, step back and take the time to take it all in.

From Awareness to Action: Mastering Pattern Recognition

Once you recognise the pattern, you gain control. You’re no longer reacting out of emotion but responding with clarity and intention.

This skill takes time to develop, but it will give you the opportunity to perhaps save your next relationship—whether it's with a client, personal, or something else.

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Think of it like rewatching a movie for the second time. You notice the foreshadowing and subtle hints you missed the first time.

Following the bouncing ball lets you do this in real-time.

Challenge: Watch the Ball Bounce

It's the holiday season so leading into the new year, try this:?

The next time you feel the urge to react quickly to a situation, pause.

Take three deep breaths. Observe.

Ask yourself:

• What patterns do I see?
• What story is the data telling me?

The ball always reveals its path—if you’re willing to watch it bounce.

Until next time,

Oliver

Mindset and Mental Performance Coach