So we’re starting week 3 of the challenge.

Have you even started week 1?

No??

Well, there’s probably a reason for that.

It’s probably hiding in a mixture of excuses like, “I’m just so-o-o-o-o busy.” or “I need to buy more stickers for my journal before I get started.”  But if we dig a little deeper…maybe you haven’t started because you fear what’s on the other side of this challenge.

Maybe you fear what kind of doors it will open…will those doors open up to places you aren’t talented enough to walk through?  Are you measuring yourself against something that exists only in your mind- against something totally crappy that someone once said to you?

Instead of an exciting learning experience about yourself, a challenge that will take you to new places, maybe it just feels like one big, huge TEST.

First of all, this is not a test.  This is a journey.

Second of all, you’re more than qualified to open whatever doors are presented to you and walk right on through.

This week, we’re focusing on procrastination because it plays a HUGE part in what so many of us experience when we can’t seem to break through.  When we say we want to do something great and then proceed to turn on the TV and zone out for three hours.

We want to be comfy.

Actually, when we aren’t aware of our self-sabotage habits that stem from fear, we retreat to unfulfilling, menial tasks because our brains are telling us that we are SAFE there.

In this part of the challenge, we’re going to dip our toes in the content of the wonderful Mel Robbins because her work ties in beautifully with Carol Dweck’s work on mindset.

You can acknowledge a fixed mindset and vow to change it all you want, but if you give in to fear…give into procrastination…your mindset wont matter because there wont be any action behind your intentions.

Mel Robbins’ content is a bridge for people who are adopting a growth mindset and venturing into new territory.  Just because you decide you’re ready to learn and grow and adopt a growth mindset…well…you’re old pal Fear will still be there saying ridiculous, stupid things to you.

The best way to shut him up?

Mel Robbins’ 5 second rule.  She wrote a national best-selling book called “The 5 Second Rule” and it’s amazing!!

Learn about what her rule can do for you by watching her on this Lewis Howes School of Greatness podcast:

-The neuroscience behind why the 5 Second Rule works (30:39)

Here’s one of her early 2014 talks about the 5 Second Rule:

Adopting the 5 second rule as you work through fixed mindset blocks can totally transform your life.

In 2014, Megan Mcardle wrote a wonderful article- “Why Writers are the Worst Procrastinators” in which she writes about why so many writers get terrible “writer’s block” and wait ’til the last minute before turning in an article or a manuscript, etc.

She mentions Carol Dweck’s mindset work and talks about how so many writers are dealing with fixed mindsets.  She quotes Pastor Steven Furtick in saying. “The reason we struggle with insecurity is because we compare our behind-the-scenes with everyone else’s highlight reel.”

BOOM!!

As you tackle your mindset and start to put action behind your dreams and best intentions, who are you comparing yourself to?  Whose highlight reel are you playing in your head?

Do their great accomplishments make you look at your ‘first drafts’ and only see mistakes and short-comings?  Do you only see what’s missing and decide you aren’t ‘destined’ to pursue your dream or the next level of your business or new project or skill or whatever because you think the highlights are what’s expected of you right out of the gate?

There are so many things our hearts want to do and deep inside us, we want to be the little kid who just wants to try new things again.  That kid who was willing to learn for the sake of learning before the world told us what we can or can’t do or become.

As we compare ourselves to others and settle into fear and doubt, we retreat to ‘safety’.  Our brains are built to protect us, so it’s not your fault for retreating to old habits. But we don’t have to stay there.

This week, we challenge you to say, “NO!” to the doubt and take leaps of action with the 5 second rule before your ‘old brain’ can cry out in protest.

Whatever you know you need to do, do one thing each day this week that you’ve been putting off.

Make that call.

Pick up that instrument.

Start typing.

Go Facebook Live and let it fly.

Invite your neighbor to coffee.

Set the appointment.

Whatever it is you’re wanting to change, form the steps you need to take that will get you from point A to point B. Remember the journal print out from last week with the 7 Challenges?

If you found yourself getting totally stuck, try again with the 5 Second Rule!

If you haven’t even really started the challenge yet (that’s ok, we understand!) go back and read Part 1 and 2 and do the work.  The journal printable is attached here as well.

Commit to doing ONE thing that scares you each day this week and use the 5 second rule to just do it.  

Please know that it’s ok to feel that seemingly small tasks might seem monumental to you and that’s OK. In fact, that’s normal.

Like Mel, maybe you struggle with getting out of bed as soon as the alarm goes off.

Anytime fear and judgment try to crowd in and mess with what you’re doing, shut them down by taking immediate action.

Write down the things that scare you or make you uncomfortable…the things that bring up feelings of self-doubt…the things that you know in your heart you’ve just gotta do.

Then count down 5…4…3…2…1