One of my favorite activities on Sunday is to visit the local bookstore. I buy a cup of coffee, then wander around to see if a book catches my eye. I generally stick to the business and personal growth sections, but every now and then, I wander into some fiction.
This particular day, about a year and a half ago, I spotted a book in the personal growth section called the 5 Second Journal by Mel Robbins. At this time, I was not writing down my goals or journaling consistently. I had a regular notebook I would jot thoughts down from time to time, but that was it. I picked the journal up, was intrigued, but thought to myself, this is another fad. Trying to exhibit some self-control, I set the journal down and moved on to the next book.
I kept thinking about the journal and the way it was sectioned for each day. My mind just would not let it go. Next week, during my usual trip to the bookstore I bought the journal. My life has literally never been the same.
I committed to journaling every morning and doing the random challenge (first day was take a cold shower!). This journal asked me to take inventory of how I felt each morning and why, list my top project for the day, commit to a time to stop working, make a list of everything in my head, plan my day, and finally, the most important section in my mind, list at least one thing I am grateful for right now. This one section has completely changed my mindset and not only do I write down what I am grateful for every morning, I also reflect on gratitude in the evening now, as well. I believe it is crucial to bookend your day with gratitude.
After buying the journal and becoming infatuated with it, I decided it was time to check out this book the insert kept referring to: The 5 Second Rule. Which came first, the chicken or the egg? I definitely discovered Mel Robbins backwards. Most people would read the book first, then buy the journal, but not me.
MIND BLOWN!
I am still amazed to this day such a simple (scientifically-based) technique has had such a huge impact on my life. It started with getting up 30 minutes earlier using the 5-4-3-2-1 technique. Then another 30 minutes. Eventually, I was getting out of bed a full two hours earlier than I was used to. “So you get up earlier, big deal,” you may be thinking. Let me share why this is a big deal. Since the day I started journaling and implementing the 5 Second Rule, my world has skyrocketed. I made a huge move with my career, have more self-confidence than ever before, and embarked on a journey to be the best me. I learned the importance of writing down your goals, of expanding your mind through a variety of avenues (reading, listening, attending conferences, etc.), and sharing the information you gain. This last is pretty much the purpose of my executive branding website. It gives me a platform to share what is in my head with you. The best part about all of this is my morning routine puts my day in order. It helps me have the most productive day, every day.
If you want to change your mindset and become more than your best you, I highly recommend starting with The 5 Second Rule by Mel Robbins. For a quick introduction to her, check out this quick YouTube here.
Now go read, Bookworm!
