The 20 Seconds of Courage Challenge

As a part of my operation “Revisit the previous 15 years of Nerd Health,” and after writing about our ​Never 2 in a Row Rule​, I up to date one of the vital common posts and concepts I’ve ever put collectively:

​20 Seconds of Courage​.

What began as an obscure line from an obscure Matt Damon film, We Purchased a Zoo, has since turn into a rallying cry for the Nerd Health Revolt, our group of nerds.

Be at liberty to ​read the full 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 satisfy his spouse:

You understand, generally 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 usually take far lower than 20 seconds. Beginning a dialog. Strolling by means of a door to the fitness center. Deciding the place to take a seat 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 might be underneath no obligation to be who you had been 5 minutes in the past.”

And as my buddy Tim City from Wait However Why shares, the paths behind us may be closed, however we all the time have selections transferring ahead:

Use 20 Seconds of Braveness to Do Laborious Issues

Brandon Sanderson gave a fantastic digital speak through the pandemic about doing laborious issues. He encourages us to undertake the next mentality slightly than simply “hope issues will work out!”:

“I can do laborious issues. Doing laborious issues has intrinsic worth, and they’re going to make me a greater particular person, even when I find yourself failing.”

And generally we would have to 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 if you happen to’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 stored us alive for a whole lot of hundreds of years as a species.

However doing laborious issues is often a prerequisite for change, and our concern typically 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 typically in creativeness than in actuality.”

Which is the place 20 seconds of braveness is available in!

The 20 Seconds of Braveness Problem

I feel this quote from Jerzy Gregorek paints an fascinating image:

“Straightforward selections, laborious life. Laborious selections, straightforward life.”

Change can occur right away, and your life’s path can change on account of any single resolution you make.

Right here’s how one can take part:

• Decide one thing you need to do however have been too scared to aim.
• 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 here are some prompts to get you began:

• Saying sure to one thing you’d usually say no to.
• Going to ​a part of the gym​ that you just’re afraid of.
• Establishing boundaries with your loved ones.
• Having an uncomfortable dialog.
• ​Talking to a complete 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.

Attempt it this week, and let me know the way it seems!

-Steve