The 5 Second Rule: Transform your Life, Work, and Confidence with Everyday Courage by Mel Robbins
If I could ONLY recommend ONE book to someone that I thought would empower them to take massive, snowballing action in making all their dreams come true, it would be this one. Bold statement, I know. Not because the book is motivating. Not because I love Mamma Mel’s voice (Hey Mel, that’s what I’ve decided to call you, hope that’s okay!). The advice is actionable and can be applied RIGHT NOW in the very moment you learn it. The 5 Second Rule is so practical and straightforward (not always easy though) ANYONE is capable of implementing this.
I first learned about Mel Robbins after watching Lewis Howes’ podcast. She said something that struck me: Don’t let your feelings define your life. At first, that seemed odd to me. How else would you define your life? You are what you feel? After all, I set goals based on my desired feelings (shoutout to The Desire Map). Then the VERY next day a friend who openly struggles with anxiety and inspires others by sharing what she goes through mentioned on her Instagram stories that her therapist was working with her on this very subject of not letting her feelings define her. When I heard it come out of her mouth, it started to click for me. I immediately hopped on Amazon and sent her that book with a note explaining that she may find this book useful given what she just said while grabbing myself the Audiobook version.
Tell you wuttt…I binge listened to that whole damn audiobook in one sitting. All 7 hours and 37 minutes of it. That good. Good like, sorry kids, your getting fast-food and cartoons this evening because momma gots to finish this book.
This video is great and is lengthy – but DOES NOT replace the wonderfulness of the book.
*Expert Tip: Get the audiobook. Even if you are a person, who needs to touch and smell the physical book. Get the audiobook. Mel delivers her book in a way that does not at all sound like she is reading to you. It is like an all day TED Talk keeping you so entertained. I was laughing; I was crying, I was enthralled with excitement while listening. Obsessed. I can see why she is one of the MOST BOOKED public speakers right now.
Every successful entrepreneur has gotten to where they are because they put in the work. The ugly work. The behind-the-scenes, not shown on Instagram work. It’s tedious. It’s disciplinary. All that “ugly work” is what makes someone a success. In any subject of life, not just business. You must be willing to be courageous, step outside your comfort zone, and do the things you don’t want to do to get the things you want out of life. The 5 Second Rule is how you get that shit done. How you force yourself to get up at 5 am when you’re not a morning person. The 5 Second Rule is how you force yourself to get out there and start dating when you think no one in this world exists for you. How you slowly walk (and drool) past the donut shop and go inside the green juice shop instead.
These tidbits below stuck out to me while listening to the book – missing though is all the empowering stories of people who apply the 5 Second Rule to their life to create beautiful stories. I promise, whether your goals are business, health, fitness, relationship focused – there is a story for everyone that will hit you hard. In the best way possible.
* Mel shares a super top secret link in the book allowing you to sign up to receive 31 mentoring videos over the course of 31 days. Talk about getting your bang for your buck. Each day she gives you a new challenge. Take this seriously and you won’t recognize your life after a month.
* Why is it difficult to do the things we know we need to be doing? Like not hitting snooze 10 ten times before getting out of bed (wish I was exaggerating). Change comes down to the courage you need every day to make 5-second decisions. You’re one decision away from a completely different life. Learn how to make decisions to change everything in your everyday life. Five seconds of courage will create profound results in your life.
* Feelings keep you from changing. When you stop to consider how you feel, you stop moving towards your goal. Our emotions are ruling our lives. You will talk yourself out of doing what needs to be done. You’re not battling your ability to stick to a diet (insert anything you struggle with to replace diet) you are battling your feelings about doing it. You are more than capable of eating healthy.
* “You cannot control how you feel, but you can always choose how you act.” Mmmm. Boom. Let that one sink in.
* The 5 Second Rule does not make things easy (sorry to break that to you) – it makes them happen. It’s a tool. Use 5-4-3-2-1 to push yourself out your head.
* You will LOSE if you sit around and wait for something to happen to you. You will never feel motivated enough to take consistent action. Be courageous, get out there and make things happen for you. The person who has the courage to start, to create, to put themselves and their ideas out there that is the person that will win. What the 5 Second Rule does is work-out that courage muscle.
* The moment you feel too tired – you’ll decide not to do something – so go 5-4-3-2-1 and make yourself do it. Activate your prefrontal cortex and make yourself do it. (Me. Every morning. Every night.)
*Mel gets raw in the book talking about her lifelong struggle with anxiety and post-partum depression. She discusses how she was able to apply The 5 Second Rule to cure her anxiety after being on medication for 20 years. Whether you struggle with anxiety or not, hearing her story drives home just how effective The 5 Second Rule can be – if you use it.
As Mel reminded me, information without execution gets you NOWHERE. Follow me on Instagram and watch my daily Stories to see how I apply the things I learn in my everyday life. In addition to my Instagram Stories, my newsletter shares valuable tips on how to live out your best life. Plus, signing up for my newsletter ONCE, enters you into a monthly drawing for a chance to win what I’ll call a “surprise and delight” goodie box from me – curated SPECIFICALLY for you and your interests.
Is it creepy that I saved full-page ads in SUCCESS Magazine about Mel’s 5 Second Rule? I keep one in the hallway outside of my room where I plug my phone in at night. That way when I get out of bed to snooze my alarm in the mornings, I see Mamma Mel reminding me to 5-4-3-2-1 it and do NOT hit snooze. I glued the other one onto my mantra/dream board that I spend time studying every day. If you follow my Instagram Stories, you will that I need to 5-4-3-2-1 to eat my can of sardines for breakfast. I’ll save the sardine diet for my Tim Ferriss, Tools of Titans review though.
It takes five seconds to change your life. -Mel
The 5 Second Rule: Transform your Life, Work, and Confidence with Everyday Courage
$13.97
