by Alanna Kelter: You may be surprised to know that one third of Americans feel dissatisfied or stuck in their lives…
That is a lot of people not living up to their potential or finding fulfillment. Why has this become so common? Shouldn’t we be doing whatever it takes to ensure we are thriving instead of just surviving?
As a motivational speaker, author, and television personality Mel Robbins says, “Feeling stuck in your life is actually just a signal that you need more exploration.” If you feel stuck, then it is time to change something. While this may seem obvious to most people, how many are actually willing to act on it? Often times we know what’s not working and what needs to change, but we disregard these thoughts and feelings and just stay stuck, rationalizing that it is easier to stay stuck than to face the potential level of discomfort that comes along with making a change in our lives, big or small.
When someone asks how we’re doing, we often reply with, “Oh, fine.” But are we really fine? Are we even fine, or are we just saying this because it is much easier than telling others that we, in fact, are not okay, and perhaps we are unhappy, unsatisfied, and unfulfilled? That we are merely just getting by? The worst is when we tell ourselves that we are fine.
Life Begins at the End of Your Comfort Zone
There is a lot more to this statement than just a cliché motivational quote. It doesn’t mean facing your fears and jumping off cliffs or doing other extreme activities; it means doing that simple thing that you avoid doing even though you know it could benefit your life — but it’s uncomfortable, so you’re scared. Making that connection, talking to that person, putting yourself out there, sharing your ideas, going for a walk daily, having that smoothie when you’d rather have a McDonald’s hashbrown, etc. These are all things that could potentially put you out of your comfort zone, but could also place you into your potential.
Below is a TedTalk from the woman who was mentioned above, Mel Robbins, called “How To Stop Screwing Yourself Over.” She believes it is the daily routine that is killing us, because we are leaving little-to-no room for exploration of any kind. The reality is, you are never going to feel like doing anything of these things, because the mind wants to keep you safe. So it’s not about waiting until you feel like it, or circumstances are perfect and the stars aligned, but rather, just doing it.
The 5 Second Rule
The 5 Second Rule suggests that, once you think of something, if you don’t put that thought into action within five seconds of thinking it, then you miss the window of opportunity. As soon as you think something, just do it, otherwise you’ll find ways to talk yourself out of it. This is such an amazing tool that you can literally start utilizing right now, and see how it affects your daily life. In the video below, she will explain this a bit more thoroughly.
Interestingly enough, this rule can be used in many different circumstances. I first learned about it the other day on my flight home to Victoria from Toronto. Now, I truly hate flying. I have experienced severe turbulence a few times in the past, so whenever I encounter it now, even a little bit, my body just snaps into panic mode and I find it difficult to breathe. The lady sitting beside me sensed my fear and sparked up a conversation with me. She was very sweet and happened to have a quartz crystal on her that she gave me to hold, and then she told me about the five second rule. In this context she told me to count backwards from five and then visualize myself stepping off the plane and meeting with my friend who was picking me up. The next time turbulence triggered that fear, I did this, and I felt so much better. She proceeded to tell me how this method can be used for procrastination, motivation, facing fears, taking risks, etc., and directed me towards the Ted Talk I’m sharing with you today.
I hope you enjoy.
