You have been told over and over that it takes motivation to do something and to wait till you are ready, but I have discovered that there is actually another factor that’s needed to get things moving.
Watch the 4 minute exerpt video from the 50 minute version with Mel Robbins about why Motivation is Garbage
So what is this simple, often overlooked part? When you want to do something, but just can’t bring yourself to do it, you hesitate. That micro-second hesitation wakes up your brain with a stress signal. Now your brain switches to protection mode and does everything possible to prevent you from doing it. Your brain does not like change and you were about to make a change over which your brain has not control over yet.
Mel calls the solution “the 5 second rule“. What does that mean? This is the definition of “the 5 second rule” from Mel Robbins book by the same name:
If you have an impulse to act on a goal, you must physically move within 5 seconds or your brain will kill the idea.
Many people are quite timid and feel they have to mull things over before they are ready to act.
Then there are the opposite kind of people who jump in and then realize they probably should have gathered more information first.
Now Mel’s information encourages you to act, even if you don’t feel like it. I came across a quote once that said this:
Movement takes you out of the path of danger, staying put keeps you in harms way.
We all have you been stuck in traffic. What do you do? Do you stay and patiently wait or do you find a different path to reach your destination?
I find that moving makes you feel like you are doing something and you are not wasting your time, even if you would have sat in traffic for the same amount of time it took you to reach your destination.
Remember this quote from the video
If you don’t start doing the things you don’t feel like doing, you will wake up one year from today and be in exactly the same place.
So that missing and overlooked point is to make an immediate decision. It might not be the right decision, but it will result in a change and as the quote below says: It will change everything.
It comes down to your decisions and if you change your decisions you will change everything.
Still want to learn more? Then watch the 50 minute full version of the interview: Mel Robbins on Why Motivation Is Garbage | Impact Theory
These show notes will help you jump to specific sections on the video
Mel explains why she thinks motivation is garbage. [2:31]
Mel talks about taking control of micro moments. [5:57]
Tom and Mel discuss the origin of her life’s work. [7:16]
Mel exposes the trap of the knowledge-action gap. [14:07]
Tom explains why he wore his NASA t-shirt. [16:07]
Mel describes the science behind the 5-second rule. [21:56]
Mel reveals how to outsmart your brain to further your goals. [23:42]
Mel debunks the myth that confidence is a personality trait. [29:00]
Tom and Mel talk about overcoming the habits of worrying, anxiety, and self-doubt. [31:44]
Mel spells out the body’s physiological response to agitation. [36:35]
Mel shares how she used an anchor thought to overcome her fear of flying. [41:56]
Mel talks about her course called The Million-dollar Morning. [45:25]
Mel Robbins latest book: The 5 Second Rule: Transform your Life, Work, and Confidence with Everyday Courage, is full of more information, including 31 FREE video mentoring sessions. Get it on Amazon now or click the image below
I would love to assist you improving your decision making.
Please contact me today for an exploration consultation.
