The plateau effect is the pattern of making rapid progress and then getting stuck, familiar to bodybuilders and fitness enthusiasts and common in careers and life. A plateau feels comfortable and familiar, which is why people hesitate to change. Recognising that you have reached a plateau, rather than equilibrium, is the strongest incentive to make a change.
Last updated · Bodhih Insights team · reviewed by Siddharthan VGJ, Founder
Bodybuilders and fitness enthusiasts are most familiar with this phenomenon- of making rapid strides one week and then getting stuck in neutral gear in the following weeks. The Plateau effect is a law of nature, as much as gravity or friction. We try our hardest to reach a certain position in life and then things seem to come to a standstill. The Plateau Effect is a known fact of life, yet people seem to find it difficult coming to terms with this.
While being on a plateau can be terribly frustrating and disappointing, it does have an important role to play. Emotionally, a plateau is indicative of a place of comfort and familiarity. This is the very reason why people hesitate to make changes in their life.
The greatest benefit of being in this place is that it brings the whole of life into sharp relief. There is no greater incentive to make a change than to realise that you have hit a plateau.
Most of life’s big changes come when your back is against the wall or when you recognize that there is no movement. It is a point where senses get dulled, and there’s a feeling lethargy. This is when we can identify, without a shadow of doubt, that we have reached a plateau and not a point of equilibrium. Therein, lies the value of the plateau. It is the precursor to the glorious climb that lies ahead
