As a part of my operation “Revisit the previous 15 years of Nerd Health,” and after writing about our By no means 2 in a Row Rule, I up to date some of the fashionable posts and concepts I’ve ever put collectively:
What began as an obscure line from an obscure Matt Damon film, We Purchased a Zoo, has since change into a rallying cry for the Nerd Health Riot, our group of nerds.
Be at liberty to learn the total article, however right here’s the quote from the film, the place Matt Damon is recounting to his son how he used 20 seconds of braveness to fulfill his spouse:
You already know, typically all you want is 20 seconds of insane braveness, simply actually 20 seconds of embarrassing bravery, and I promise you one thing nice will come of it.
Our lives are made up of a ton of fast actions that always take far lower than 20 seconds. Beginning a dialog. Strolling via a door to the fitness center. Deciding the place to sit down in a restaurant.
And since we’ve made so many of those selections, there’s a ton of inertia and historical past that may make us suppose we’re incapable of change.
Nevertheless, as Alan Watts factors out, “you’re underneath no obligation to be who you had been 5 minutes in the past.”
And as my good friend Tim City from Wait However Why shares, the paths behind us could be closed, however we at all times have decisions transferring ahead:
Use 20 Seconds of Braveness to Do Exhausting Issues
Brandon Sanderson gave a fantastic digital speak through the pandemic about doing onerous issues. He encourages us to undertake the next mentality reasonably than simply “hope issues will work out!”:
“I can do onerous issues. Doing onerous issues has intrinsic worth, and they’re going to make me a greater individual, even when I find yourself failing.”
And typically we’d must do a tough factor that’s scary. Whether or not it’s becoming a member of a fitness center or standing up for your self at work, or lastly setting boundaries with your loved ones…
It’s okay for those who’re scared, by the way in which.
Doing scary issues is hard, and we’re wired to belief our fears and keep away from scary situations, which has saved us alive for a whole lot of 1000’s of years as a species.
However doing onerous issues is normally a prerequisite for change, and our worry usually doesn’t match the truth of the occasion itself.
As Seneca shares in his letter to Lucilius:
“There are extra issues, Lucilius, more likely to frighten us than there are to crush us; we undergo extra usually in creativeness than in actuality.”
Which is the place 20 seconds of braveness is available in!
The 20 Seconds of Braveness Problem
I believe this quote from Jerzy Gregorek paints an attention-grabbing image:
“Straightforward decisions, onerous life. Exhausting decisions, simple life.”
Change can occur instantly, and your life’s path can change because of any single choice you make.
Right here’s methods to take part:
- Decide one thing you wish to do however have been too scared to try.
- Freak the F out earlier than you do the factor.
- Muster up 20 seconds of braveness and take that one motion.
- Pee your pants after (non-obligatory).
And listed below are some prompts to get you began:
- Saying sure to one thing you’d usually say no to.
- Going to part of the fitness center that you just’re afraid of.
- Establishing boundaries with your loved ones.
- Having an uncomfortable dialog.
- Speaking to a whole stranger.
- Taking extra initiative at work.
- Signing up for a brand new class.
- Standing up for your self.
- Main a military of Transformers in opposition to the Decepticons.
Strive it this week, and let me know the way it seems!
-Steve
