I started reading The 5 Second Rule by Mel Robbins, and within the first chapter, I could already feel it calling me out. It’s not a book that lets you sit comfortably in your excuses. It’s not about waiting for motivation or hoping for the right moment. It’s about action—and more importantly, about having the courage to act before your mind convinces you not to.
The whole concept is simple: You have five seconds to make a move before hesitation and self-doubt creep in. When you have an instinct to do something—whether it’s speaking up, starting a task, making a change—you count down: 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, and go. No time to overthink, no time to talk yourself out of it. Just move.
And that’s what hit me the hardest. Because how many times have I waited for motivation to strike? How many times have I hesitated, held myself back, let my own doubts keep me from doing the things I know I need to do?
More times than I can count.
But then, I came across this quote in the book:
“If you change your decisions, you’ll change your life.”
It sounds obvious, right? But how often do we really think about that? Every choice we make—or don’t make—is shaping the direction of our lives. Every moment of hesitation, every time we let fear win, every time we choose comfort over growth, we’re reinforcing the life we already have instead of creating the life we want.
And what changes your decisions more than anything? A little bit of courage.
Not a perfect plan. Not waiting until we feel confident. Not having everything figured out. Just courage—the kind that pushes you forward even when you’re scared, even when you’re unsure, even when everything in you wants to stay where it’s safe.
Because here’s the truth:
“Every phase of your life and career will require a different you.”
That hit me like a gut punch. The person I’ve been up until now? She got me here. But the person I need to become? She’s going to take me further. And she won’t show up by accident—I have to be her now. I have to start making decisions the way she would. I have to stop hesitating and start trusting that I’m capable.
I’m only four chapters in, but I already know this book is going to challenge me. Because I don’t just want to think about changing—I want to move. And if all it takes is five seconds of courage to change my decisions, then maybe that’s all I need to start changing my life.
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