Escaping the 'It'll Get Worse Before It Gets Better' Fallacy

The phrase ‘It’ll get worse before it gets better.’ is attributed to Metternich, the 19^th century Austrian diplomat. Since then has been described as a psychological fallacy by Rolf Dobelli in ‘The Art of Thinking Clearly’.  

Certainly, people have different responses to adversity and challenges. Some individuals are more resilient and motivated by the prospect of overcoming difficulties, while others may become discouraged by the same challenges.  "It'll Get Worse Before It Gets Better" may not be suitable advice for everyone. It’s risking issuing a platitude like ‘Toughen up.’

Falling back on 'It'll Get Worse Before It Gets Better' is tempting. We may feel averse to change or discomfort, even when these are essential ingredients for growth. However, for some it can push us to amplify the potential negatives of a situation, leading to procrastination, inaction, or even giving up prematurely.  

So, while there's an element of truth in acknowledging that progress often comes with challenges, it's essential to recognise when this belief can become a self-fulfilling prophecy, causing us to double down on our woes.

An objective mentor, coach, or guide has the potential to play a critical role in breaking this cycle. An external perspective, free from the emotional baggage we carry, allows them to see situations more clearly. But How?

Reframing Perspectives: shedding light on potential positives and opportunities. By pointing out that while things might get tougher, the path forward is paved with growth and improvement, they can to strike a balance between acknowledging the challenges ahead and focusing on the potential for positive change.

An honest assessment of the situation, separates facts from emotion. Objective experience and insight can help us understand whether our the beliefs are truly applicable in each case. This may guide us towards setting specific goals and breaking them down into manageable steps to counter inertia and introduce an element of  support which can prevent us from spiralling further into negative thought patterns.

'It'll Get Worse Before It Gets Better' can hinder our progress and keep us trapped in cycles of negativity so remember:

Context Matters. In various scenarios, such as personal development, recovery from illness, or organisational change, initial difficulties and setbacks may occur before positive progress is made. The key is to balance optimism with a realistic understanding of the challenges that might be encountered on the path to improvement. If we expect hardship and setbacks, we may be more resilient however, dwelling on the "worse" part can hinder progress.

An objective advisor can make all the difference.