How to Beat Self-Doubt in 5 Seconds

UPDATED: May 22, 2023
PUBLISHED: November 3, 2017
self doubt

Have you ever just felt like sh*t? Mel Robbins has. “In 2008, my husband’s restaurant business started going under, and it took our house, our entire life savings and almost our marriage with it…. At the time, I was also unemployed and I was facing an issue where I just felt like sh*t about myself,” she tells the audience at SUCCESS Live Long Beach. “The alarm would go off in the morning and all I could think about were all the things that were wrong with my life.”

Then, one night, she saw a commercial with a rocket ship launching and thought, That’s it, that’s the answer. She made the decision that the next morning, instead of hitting the snooze button over and over, she would rocket out of that bed like a rocket ship. “I’m going to move so fast that I cannot talk myself out of getting up.” And she did. Just by counting backward, 5-4-3-2-1… GO. She calls it the 5 Second Rule.

For Mel, it’s her secret to beating self-doubt, to gaining greater confidence. It changed her life. And it can change yours, too.

Related: It Only Takes 5 Seconds to Change Your Life

MEL ROBBINS HIGH-FIVES THE CROWD AT SUCCESS LIVE IN LONG BEACH (COBA IMAGES)

“Look, if I find myself in a situation where I know what I should do but I don’t feel like doing it, I’m going to use a stupid rule.” —Mel Robbins


Explore more SUCCESS Talks videos by topic on SUCCESS magazine”s YouTube Channel, featuring thought-leaders, authors, entrepreneurs and respected researchers in the fields of human psychology, brain health, relationships and more, who share the tried-and-true tenets of human achievement and success.

Running time: 46:00

Filmed September 2017 at SUCCESS Live in Long Beach

MelRobbins

Mel Robbins is a contributing editor to SUCCESS magazine, best-selling author, CNN commentator, creator of the “5 Second Rule” and the busiest female motivational speaker in the world. To find out more, visit her website: MelRobbins.com. To follow her on Twitter: Twitter.com/melrobbins

Oops!

You’ve reached your limit of free
articles for this month!

Subscribe today and read to your heart’s content!

(plus get access to hundreds of resources designed
to help you excel in life and business)

Just

50¢
per day

!

Unlock a fifth article for free!

Plus, get access to daily inspiration, weekly newsletters and podcasts, and occasional updates from us.

By signing up you are also added to SUCCESS® emails. You can easily unsubscribe at anytime. By clicking above, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.

Register

Get unlimited access to SUCCESS®
(+ a bunch of extras)! Learn more.

Let's Set Your Password

Oops!

The exclusive article you’re trying to view is for subscribers only.

Subscribe today and read to your heart’s content!

(plus get access to hundreds of resources designed
to help you excel in life and business)

Just

50¢
per day

!