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The High 5 Habit

The High 5 Habit

Take Control of Your Life with One Simple Habit
by Mel Robbins 2021 241 pages
4.26
10k+ ratings
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Key Takeaways

1. The High 5 Habit: A Simple Gesture for Self-Empowerment

You don't need to change anything to deserve the love and acceptance you need. You just need to start giving yourself that validation.

The High 5 Habit is a simple yet powerful daily practice of giving yourself a high five in the mirror each morning. This gesture serves as a physical affirmation of self-love, acceptance, and encouragement. By incorporating this habit into your daily routine, you create a positive start to your day and begin to rewire your brain for increased self-confidence and motivation.

Benefits of the High 5 Habit:

  • Boosts self-esteem and self-worth
  • Increases motivation and energy
  • Promotes a positive mindset
  • Strengthens your relationship with yourself

To implement the High 5 Habit:

  1. Stand in front of a mirror each morning
  2. Look yourself in the eyes
  3. Raise your hand and give yourself a high five
  4. Mentally affirm your worth and potential for the day ahead

2. Rewiring Your Brain: The Science Behind the High 5

Your RAS blocks 99% of what's around you from reaching your conscious mind—because if it didn't, your head would explode from information overload.

The Reticular Activating System (RAS) plays a crucial role in filtering information and shaping our perception of reality. By understanding and harnessing the power of the RAS, we can rewire our brains to focus on positive outcomes and opportunities rather than obstacles and limitations.

The High 5 Habit works by:

  • Creating new neural pathways associated with self-encouragement
  • Activating the RAS to prioritize positive self-perception
  • Reinforcing a growth mindset through consistent practice

Additional RAS training techniques:

  • Look for naturally occurring heart shapes in your environment
  • Keep a journal of positive experiences and "signs" related to your goals
  • Practice gratitude and positive affirmations daily

3. Breaking Free from Negative Self-Talk and Limiting Beliefs

Current Limiting Belief: If somebody else has it, I can't. Flip It: Their success is just proof that I can have it too.

Identifying and challenging limiting beliefs is essential for personal growth and success. Negative self-talk and destructive thought patterns can hold us back from reaching our full potential. By consciously flipping these beliefs and replacing them with empowering alternatives, we can create a more positive and supportive inner dialogue.

Steps to break free from limiting beliefs:

  1. Identify your negative self-talk and limiting beliefs
  2. Challenge these beliefs with evidence to the contrary
  3. Create alternative, empowering beliefs
  4. Practice reinforcing these new beliefs through affirmations and actions

Examples of flipping limiting beliefs:

  • "I'm not good enough" → "I am constantly learning and improving"
  • "I always fail" → "Every setback is an opportunity for growth"
  • "I don't deserve success" → "I am worthy of achieving my goals"

4. Embracing Failure as a Stepping Stone to Success

Everything you are learning is helping you break patterns of thinking and behavior that keep you stuck.

Reframing failure as a learning opportunity is crucial for personal and professional growth. By embracing failure and viewing it as a necessary part of the journey to success, we can develop resilience, adaptability, and a growth mindset.

Key aspects of embracing failure:

  • Recognize that failure is a natural part of the learning process
  • Extract valuable lessons from each setback
  • Use failure as motivation to improve and try new approaches
  • Celebrate the courage it takes to attempt challenging goals

Strategies for learning from failure:

  • Conduct a post-mortem analysis of what went wrong
  • Identify specific areas for improvement
  • Seek feedback from mentors or peers
  • Set new, adjusted goals based on your learnings

5. Overcoming Procrastination and Taking Action

It's easier to be envious of other people, or judgy of them, than to admit to yourself that there is something missing from your life.

Procrastination often stems from fear and self-doubt. By recognizing the root causes of procrastination and implementing strategies to overcome it, we can take consistent action towards our goals and dreams.

Techniques to overcome procrastination:

  1. Break large tasks into smaller, manageable steps
  2. Set specific deadlines and hold yourself accountable
  3. Use the 5-Second Rule to initiate action
  4. Visualize the positive outcomes of completing tasks

Creating momentum:

  • Start with the easiest or most enjoyable part of a task
  • Commit to working on a task for just 5 minutes
  • Reward yourself for taking action and completing tasks
  • Track your progress and celebrate small wins

6. Building Self-Confidence and Trusting Your Intuition

When you like yourself and your life, it might upset your mom, and your kids, and your friends, and your church, and maybe even the country of Ireland. Doing what's right for you will be hard in the beginning.

Self-confidence and intuition are powerful tools for navigating life's challenges and making decisions aligned with our true selves. By cultivating self-trust and learning to listen to our inner wisdom, we can make choices that lead to greater fulfillment and authenticity.

Steps to build self-confidence and trust intuition:

  1. Practice self-compassion and positive self-talk
  2. Set and achieve small, attainable goals
  3. Celebrate your strengths and accomplishments
  4. Listen to your gut feelings and honor your instincts

Exercises to strengthen intuition:

  • Meditate regularly to quiet the mind and access inner guidance
  • Journal about your feelings and hunches
  • Practice making small decisions based on intuition
  • Reflect on past experiences where your intuition was correct

7. Cultivating Resilience in the Face of Adversity

I'm okay. I'm safe. I'm loved.

Resilience is the ability to bounce back from setbacks and adapt to challenging circumstances. By developing resilience, we can navigate life's ups and downs with greater ease and maintain a positive outlook in the face of adversity.

Key components of resilience:

  • Emotional regulation
  • Flexible thinking
  • Strong support network
  • Sense of purpose and meaning

Strategies for building resilience:

  • Practice mindfulness and stress-reduction techniques
  • Develop a growth mindset and embrace challenges
  • Cultivate strong relationships and seek support when needed
  • Engage in activities that bring joy and meaning to your life

8. The Power of Visualization and Manifestation

Your mind is designed to help you achieve your dreams.

Visualization and manifestation are powerful tools for achieving goals and creating the life we desire. By harnessing the power of our imagination and aligning our thoughts and actions with our aspirations, we can increase our chances of success and personal fulfillment.

Effective visualization techniques:

  1. Create a detailed mental image of your desired outcome
  2. Engage all your senses in the visualization
  3. Practice visualization regularly, ideally daily
  4. Combine visualization with positive affirmations

The manifestation process:

  • Clearly define your goals and desires
  • Believe in the possibility of achieving your dreams
  • Take inspired action towards your goals
  • Remain open to opportunities and synchronicities
  • Trust the process and practice patience

9. Navigating Life Transitions and Embracing Change

The price of your new life is your old one.

Life transitions and changes can be both exciting and challenging. By developing the skills to navigate these transitions with grace and resilience, we can embrace new opportunities for growth and self-discovery.

Strategies for embracing change:

  1. Acknowledge and process emotions associated with change
  2. Focus on what you can control in the situation
  3. Seek support from friends, family, or professionals
  4. View change as an opportunity for personal growth

Tips for successful life transitions:

  • Maintain a flexible mindset and be open to new possibilities
  • Create new routines and habits to support your new circumstances
  • Set realistic expectations and be patient with yourself
  • Reflect on past successful transitions for confidence and guidance

Last updated:

Review Summary

4.26 out of 5
Average of 10k+ ratings from Goodreads and Amazon.

The High 5 Habit receives mostly positive reviews, with readers praising its simple yet effective approach to self-improvement. Many find the concept of high-fiving oneself in the mirror empowering and confidence-boosting. Reviewers appreciate Robbins' personal stories, scientific backing, and actionable advice. Some criticism includes repetitiveness and overly lengthy content. The book is seen as particularly helpful for those new to self-help or struggling with anxiety. Overall, readers find it motivating and transformative, with many implementing the habit in their daily lives.

Your rating:

About the Author

Mel Robbins is a multifaceted professional with a background in law and a career spanning various media platforms. An Ivy League-educated criminal defense attorney turned entrepreneur, she has gained recognition as a commentator, speaker, and author. Robbins has appeared on numerous television shows, offering her insights on current affairs and relationships. Her best-selling book, "STOP SAYING YOU'RE FINE," tackles procrastination using neuroscience research. Robbins is also a sought-after keynote speaker for business conventions and leadership conferences. She balances her career with family life, being married to entrepreneur Christopher Robbins and raising three children.

Other books by Mel Robbins

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