This is Day 2 of making myself accountable (to myself) for 5 days in a row, using The 5 Second Rule.
I’ll continue on from yesterday with my goals below, and will say that, even though these are tiny goals, putting it out there publicly is scary.
People will judge, and they do, and people may advise you to not do this online in case you fail, or don’t achieve your goals. People may judge your challenges and disabilities, especially when some of the tasks look super easy to do.
(someone already has told me, “I wouldn’t do that” when I let them know that I was posting my 5 goals and challenges per day…they wouldn’t want people to know that they are having a hard time…with anything)
Yet interestingly, putting the hard and scary stuff out there, builds courage and it also sends a message that nobody is perfect; we all struggle with something. As long as I try, other people’s judgements truly mean nothing, except as they say, it says a lot about them. Also, as long as I am posting my outcomes, and hopefully positive change, then it’s all good and helpful in my opinion.
Here we go, Day 2 goals:
- Make a call to someone (or issue) difficult to deal with (I have 4 of these on my to do list)
- Make a call to someone beautiful and who is effortless to speak with
- Get to the swimming pool before 9 AM and swim at least 30 minutes
- Call and complete one more phone call on my to do list (I have a LONG list of phone calls that I’ve been avoiding; 4 really unpleasant ones and many that are things that just need to get done)
- Revise resume as a first draft
- (bonus goal) Get outdoors and make at least one photo and publish online
Yes, I know this isn’t necessary to do The 5 Second Rule in this way, and maybe my approach is too regimented for this week, but it’s my way for this one week, for 5 days in a row. This is also one way for me to get back to writing and blogging.
As you can see, I’ve put a few phone calls on my list. Why? This week, that seems like the hardest thing for me to do and due to the types of calls, they really are necessities that really have to get done.
I know that I can’t be alone as one who stalls (in fear of) making phone calls? Of course I’m not alone in this challenge. Making phone calls can be scary for lots of people.
The 5 Second Rule, as I understand it, was designed in part, to help you get hard stuff done that you don’t really want to do. So if phone calls are it for me right now, let’s get at it! And with no shame.
Always Love,
Brenda
***
I leave you with this:
Here’s what Mel Robbins has to say about the 3rd element of The 5 Second Rule:
“The third element of the 5 Second Rule is that you must push yourself. The Rule is about pushing yourself even when you don’t want to. It’s about taking control of your own life, one push at a time.”
Photo Credit: https://melrobbins.com/five-elements-5-second-rule/
Have a read: Mel Robbins explains The 5 Second Rule and how “You Are Never Going To Feel Like It”
“FACT: You are never ever going to feel like it. Ever.”
Update : 4 A.M. October 18th
So how did I do?
Long story short, I once again spent many hours in my car (I live on an Island) getting other tasks done. All of my goals weren’t reached. Hey, I’m all about the truth.
Also, I got called by the news media first thing in the morning, to do an on-camera interview on a local topic, so my entire day was taken up by doing tasks and research for that. In the end, after an entire day of my work on it, the news posted a different story. (the on camera interview never happened) Hey, stuff happens. Onward! The good news? I’ve got a whack of research done for a story that I can now pitch elsewhere, or that they can use at a later date. The topic isn’t going away any time soon.
So I’ve decided, that although this was a brilliant and courageous idea, 5 Days, 5 Seconds, 5 Goals, I’ve got too many other things going on in my personal life right now to commit to making these “reached” goals public. The entire purpose would be to inspire and to help others, not only myself, by actually reaching the 5 daily goals that I set. And if I’m not reaching goals, how will that help you?
So I’ve stopped this at this time, and will give it a go at a later date. (or not)
What have I learned?
This idea still IS a success. Why?
- It take guts and courage to put anything out there in public where you may fail, and may be judged, yet you do it anyway.
- I had focus all day long each day, and that focus to achieve, was positive.
- I’ll still use the 5-4-3-2-1Rule during my days, but without the added pressure of a to do list to complete publicly. The 5 Second Rule works. I love it.
- (some) Phone calls are hard (impossible) for me. (right now) In time they won’t be.
- It got me blogging and writing online again. That’s a HUGE success.
- The truth heals. When we tell the truth to ourselves and to others, we help make the world a better place (even when we don’t succeed as we had wished)
- I put added pressure on myself by making the hardest things public; painful phone calls. That’s OK. I learned.
- I achieved some goals on my lists and I had FUN doing it.
- This got me back into the swimming pool, which I’ve wanted to do for months. I went. I will go again this morning.
- It got me focused on taking photos every single day and publishing at least one, whether good, perfect, or nowhere near that. It’s all part of the creative process and it all matters
- Not all phone calls are hard for me. Many calls, I dive right into and thrive. Others, not so much. The calls that are too painful (avoidance+fear+anxiety) to make, are too personal to post online anyway (boundaries)
- It’s a good way to grow personally, by putting yourself out there publicly online; you learn a lot more about yourself when you succeed or don’t succeed at reaching goals
- In summary, I will continue to use The 5 Second Rule daily, but maybe not in such a structured way online, and will post to my blog some stories on what and how I did, on occasion, after the fact, but not on a daily schedule.
That’s it! Done. Lessons Learned!
P.S.
Photos I took as part of my daily goal:
