How to Increase Your Confidence and Courage Using the 5-Second Rule - Introvert Whisperer

Introvert Whisperer / How to Increase Your Confidence and Courage Using the 5-Second Rule - Introvert Whisperer How to Increase Your Confidence and Courage Using the 5-Second Rule Sarah Landrum March 27, 2018 Dealing with Fear No responses Go to top Life is busy. You probably have conflicting priorities, juggle too many tasks and often forget about yourself, which leads to procrastination. However, procrastinators tend to put off the things that are most important, like relationships, career goals and self-care. Ever heard of the 5-Second Rule? No, not the one that refers to your piece of candy that fell on the floor. This 5-Second Rule is one that can transform your entire life. Getting What You Want by Acting on Your Desires Knowing and doing are two different things. You can understand how to perform well at your job, but if you fail to do so, you wont be successful. Knowing how to do something and actually taking the initiative to do it is what will get you results. This applies to what you want out of your life. Do you know what it is you want? If so, have you done what you can to get it? If you havent, youre procrastinating because youre likely stressed. Youll have more opportunities for personal growth and expansion when you step outside of your comfort zone because you will learn more about yourself and what youre capable of. On the other hand, if youre afraid to take risks, you may never know what could have been. Your brain is wired to fight between what you feel you should do and what you know you should do. Its a constant battle, and more often than not, what you think will win. Naturally, people choose to stay in their comfort zones because they’re afraid of potential stress that can come from stepping out of it. However, this fear will only hinder your personal growth and ability to change the things in your life you dont like. Stop putting these things off. Procrastination is a coping mechanism â€" nothing more. You can break free from it. Use the 5-Second Rule to Change Your Life for the Better Say hello to the 5-Second Rule, a tool that can change your life â€" if you let it. The 5-Second Rule was shared on a TEDx stage nearly five years ago and is now one of the top 20 TEDx talks in the world. It’s had more than six million views from over 37 different countries, and its popularity has resulted in tons of positive feedback from people who have applied this rule to their own lives. The 5-Second Rule was created by a woman named Mel Robbins, who was struggling in, life like many of us do. She had problems with her finances, marriage, career and more. She developed the idea of the 5-Second Rule to help her take action and change the things in her life that were making her unhappy. The 5-Second Rule is one of the most popular audio books ever published, and Robbins is now one of the most sought-after motivational speakers in the entire world. You’re not alone in the world if you’re struggling. In fact, everyone struggles with something. Whether it’s getting out of bed in the morning, completing to-do lists or performing better at work, everyone around you has struggles you dont even know about. While it can be comforting to know you’re not alone, don’t let that be enough to continue doing do nothing about your own struggles. But knowing what to do isnt enough, and understanding why you need to do something will also never be enough. You can know something, but that doesn’t mean you will do it. It can be hard take the first step and change the things in your life that weigh you down. Easier said than done, right? Not anymore. The 5-Second Rule is the extra push you need to launch yourself into action. It’s time to get motivated and make changes. Make a list of goals and update it frequently. When you complete a goal, cross it off of your list. So here it is â€" the secret to the 5-Second Rule. Whenever you have an impulse to act on one of your goals, you must physically move within 5 seconds, or your brain will just kill the idea. Then, poof â€" there goes your opportunity to make a change. Act, before it’s too late. You can break down this technique into three general steps. 1. Acknowledge That You’re Stressed Focus on what stresses you out. Then, determine if that stress is coming from a real threat or just something you perceive. Its important to have this talk with yourself to understand where your anxiety and procrastination are coming from. Without self-awareness, you’ll likely continue down the same path. Take the pressure off yourself and accept that you aren’t at fault or unable to change. Here are a few things to remember: Be honest with yourself Trust yourself Don’t analyze or dissect Take the pressure off yourself 2. Make a Five-Second Decision to Do Something Once you identify the things in your life that cause you stress and procrastination, immediately do something about it. Don’t give your brain the time to react to whether you want to do it. Decide and act. For example, if you know you should lose weight to get healthy, act on the issue right away by tossing out your unhealthy snacks and making a grocery list of better foods to buy. Remember these tips: Go with your gut Confront your stress Act before it’s too late 3. Set Up a Plan of Action The brain tricks you into procrastinating in the first place. When you think about something you don’t like or want to do, it can activate your insular cortex,  the part of your brain that experiences pain. This way of thinking can naturally trigger feelings of pain, therefore making you not want to do something. Learn to trick your brain when you feel procrastination coming on. Don’t think about what you should be doing. Instead, focus on the task at hand, then reward yourself as an incentive. Buy a new pair of shoes, go on a vacation or treat yourself to a nice meal. Remember to: Recognize procrastination Shut out negative thoughts Trick your brain Focus on the task Reward yourself Don’t let “I don’t want to do it” become “I can’t do it.” Stop yourself in the moment and decide to change your life. Stop your stress in its tracks by acknowledging what’s causing it, then coming up with a plan to prevent it. Procrastination is a natural, valid response to stress. Cut yourself some slack, but also remember you’re always five seconds away from changing your life â€" you just have to find the courage to decide to do it, then act on that choice. 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