Everything Comes Down to the Decisions You Make

According to Mel Robbins, author of The Five Second Rule, there are three things we can do when faced with a decision:

1) Decide to do nothing;

2) Decide to do something that keeps you “safe,” staying within your comfort zone, avoiding difficult actions which could move you closer to your goals and dreams;

3) Decide to take action and see what happens next.

It only takes five seconds to make a decision. Five seconds can move you from thinking to doing. Find out how you can incorporate this simple method of decision-making and the science behind why it works. Listen to the full interview here:

Learn the secret to how to make decisions, build self confidence, and anxiety self help with this simple and powerful strategy…and the science behind why it’s so effective. Link to Interview

Highlights for Making Great Decisions and Building Confidence:

Confidence is the ability to move from thought to action. It has nothing to do with your personality. Many outgoing people are insecure; many introverted personalities are very secure with who they are, and their thoughts yet are uncomfortable turning the attention on themselves. Confidence is a skill that can be learned.

Confidence does not guarantee that what you try will work out as planned. Confidence is the ability to turn your thoughts into action, trusting that you can handle whatever happens next.

Anxiety is the habit of worrying that has gone out of control. Mel shares that she struggled with anxiety her entire life. What is interesting is that when you view anxiety through the lens of a habit, it makes it less scary. Most of us understand that habits are formed, changed, or broken all the time. We can control our habits. This means you don’t have to be a slave to anxiety. You can change how you feel. That’s powerful!

Positive thinking on its own is ineffective. Combining a thought pattern interrupt, like the 5 seconds she talks about, allows your brain to reset and then focus on what you really want to, or should, focus on.

Physically, there is no difference between excitement and fear. Your mind determines what is true for you in that moment. So rather than see a situation that is not obviously life-threatening as something to fear (like public speaking, starting your business, asking for a raise or a date), why not see it as exciting. Train yourself to respond differently. Tell your brain to see it as exciting, not scary. You have the power to give context to what is going on so you can respond in a manner that will help you reach your goals and desired outcome instead of being held back by fear.

We are all wired a certain way. Know your wiring, and then learn how to work with it positively to get what you want. Don’t allow it to be a crutch that holds you back. Figure out what you need and then apply it.

Change is simple; it’s not easy. You are one Google search away from knowing what steps you need to take to get the desired result. Simple. But the execution is not always easy. The successful people you see and admire can execute because they have the confidence to do so. Confidence is a skill that can be learned. So, you can learn to execute your thoughts just like those you admire.

You should not have your phone in your bedroom because what’s on your phone is not your dream. Phones, and the apps on your electronic devices, are designed by people who study game theory and use the concept of random rewards to get you hooked. Wonder why you check your email and social media so often? You’re looking for the occasional reward that apps are programmed to offer.

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We all hear different things, and I hope you found something of value here to apply to your life as you continue to do great things. What did you find interesting and valuable for you in this interview? I’d love to hear about it in the comments!