The alarm goes off at 5:00 am. I find that even before that, my brain is starting to leave my dreams and slowly awaken. It only takes my mind moments to fire up and begin launching into a series of lists, choices, commentaries, and rationalizations. My thoughts move quickly in and out of the day’s must-dos and appointments, into what I should do or try to accomplish, to reaching back and exploring a recent dream. My body does not move as swiftly. Somehow my brain engages at one hundred miles an hour while my body is lucky to reach ten. I am working hard to change this and even the playing field between my brain and my body by going to bed earlier, exercising, eating a keto based diet, and tapping into my support team’s resources.

Breaking old patterns of behavior and habits is hard work. It is physical and emotional work. I remember feeling this way a few months after giving birth to each of my children. The exhaustion sets in and you want to sleep, but you know you can’t because your baby is counting on you to take care of it, to love it, and nurture it. Today, I am experiencing this while I am working to reshape my life into one filled with the people, places, and activities that I love. If you think about it, the aspects of having a newborn and reassembling parts of your life are very similar. Both scenarios are serious times of learning and engaging in your life in entirely new ways.

 

The good news is that I have a couple of helpers. One is my husband, Robert. He is supportive, loving, non-judgemental, and readily lends a hand when things get overwhelming at home. The second person is one you can tap into as well. Her name is Mel Robbins. She is the author of “The Five Second Rule,” and she is a no BS kind of gal. Mel’s “Five Second Rule” is my reset button when I’m frustrated, feeling overwhelmed, or stuck. She is replacing the “monkey on my shoulder” that was talking to my “lizard brain” and conspiring against me. Those two comrades thought they were keeping me safe, but really they were keeping me stuck.

 

The “monkey on my shoulder” is that little voice that is always saying things like “you can’t do that, don’t do that, OMG what will they think if you do that!” The monkey is like an evil helicopter mom. Everyone has a “lizard brain.” It’s called the Amygdala, and it is the oldest part of the human brain. The “lizard brain’s” tasks are to keep you safe, well fed, and happily reproducing and it takes its jobs seriously. That sounds great on paper, but the actual ways it goes about doing those things aren’t always so peachy. The lizard is a superior sabotager.

It is no wonder my body doesn’t want to jump right out of bed every morning. Who wants to awaken each day with an ancient lizard and a flying monkey ready to take charge of their life? I’m learning to tame these two by using the “Five Second Rule” as explained by Mel Robbins. It is as simple as its name. To stop the negative voices and indecisiveness, countdown, 5, 4,3, 2,1, and take action. Lean into what you need to do to accomplish the next step that will move you closer to what you are trying to achieve. For example, 5, 4, 3, 2,1, get your tush out of bed, make the phone call, fold the clothes, sign up for the class, just wear the freaking comfortable shoes. There is science behind this, and you can hear more about that from Mel Robbins directly on her blog, or buy her book.

I may never be able to get my body moving in the morning as quickly as I would like it to, but it won’t be the thing that stops me from having the life that I want. I’m not going to let the monkey and the lizard steal that time from me every day, because it is such valuable time. It is usually the only time of day where most of it belongs to me, and I can share devoted time with Robert.  Tomorrow is a new day so let’s count: 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, and let’s get the party started.