Today, I’m inspired to share a Ted Talk I came across by a gal named Mel Robbins. I found her down to earth and really cool. She talked about the fact that there are certain things in your life that you are never going to feel like doing.
She brought up the example of getting out of bed. Do we ever really feel like getting out of bed? Not really, we do it and some do it more joyfully then others but for the majority staying in the warm bed is much more appealing.
Do we really feel like going to the gym? Again some do, most of us don’t but we do it because we like the result and feeling afterwards. Also, we never regret a workout, but may regret not going.
The point is to not let your moods or feelings dictate what you are doing. It is often some type of resistance or hesitation that takes us off track. Robbins also talks about this idea that there are two sides of the brain. One side is autopilot, this is comfort zone, going through the motions and the typical way we pattern our day.
The other side of the brain is the emergency brake. This is the side that stops you from moving forward, usually the lower brain triggered by fear, insecurity or not being fully committed. In that she says basically we have five seconds, it’s called the 5-Second Rule. For instance, if our goal is to get up at 6am and go workout, and once that alarm goes off, if we don’t do it within 5 seconds and hesitate, we will probably snooze the alarm and not do it.
Has that ever happened to you? I know it has for me!
You’re about to make that sales call, then you find yourself going for another cup of coffee instead. You were about to have a tough conversation with your kids, then decided to watch TV instead.
This idea resonated for me because I think everyone can relate. It’s easier to stay on autopilot and stick with what’s familiar, even when we want change. Understanding that it’s ok and perfectly normal to not feel like doing the things that seem hard or uncomfortable, the things that bring up fear and anxiety. The motivation and drive isn’t just going to show up like we think it should, it grows when you are in action.
When you were learning how to operate a car, it was clunky at first and took practice before you could drive without thinking about it. Knowing you are not going to feel like it, but doing it anyway, builds the integrity muscle. Steven Covey called it, “making deposits in your integrity bank.” Keeping your word, mostly to yourself, builds integrity and confidence and the more you practice follow-through and not hesitating the more that will become your new autopilot.
Remember, you got 5-SECONDS!! Autopilot may seem comfortable and safe, but growth happens when you release that emergency brake.
Is there something you have been thinking about or talking and haven’t started?
DO IT!! GO…you have 5-Seconds!! 🙂
“If you only did the things you don’t want to do, you’d have everything
you’ve ever wanted.”
~ Mel Robbins~
