Below is a short discussion inspired by Mel Robbins on Episode #970 of The School of Greatness Podcast.

The pandemic has put our lives on hold, but there are ways to better days. When we confront old wounds, break our bad habits, and help those in need, we can all come out of this situation wiser, stronger, and tougher than ever.

On this episode of The School of Greatness, author, speaker, and talk show host Mel Robbins talks about the lessons we can learn about our mindset, our confidence, and the outside world, during the pandemic.

Here’s what we can learn:

• About our trauma: When we acknowledge the trauma we’ve experienced as children; we can see how they affect our present lives. This awareness allows us to break the bad habits our trauma created. When we put better habits in place, we can improve our lives.
• About our confidence: Action produces confidence, not the other way around. We have to be willing to try new things, even when we’re afraid or unprepared. When we commit to what we do, despite fear and apprehension, we become more experienced and more confident.
• About a better world: We can still create new chapters in our lives by revisiting old hobbies and exploring new ones. We can still help other people by speaking out against corruption and injustice. Our decisions and our voice, can help make the world a better place regardless of a pandemic.

When we take responsibility for our problems, take the initiative to improve our lives, and to help other people, we can endure the hardships and correct acts of injustice, even at the midst of this pandemic.

the distilld lessons

These are the distilld lessons from Episode #970 of The School of Greatness Podcast.

Mel defines trauma as experiences that we go through or witness that put our nervous system—not our brains--on alarm. This is why even if the memory fades, the trauma stays.  

We can’t heal our wounds if we don’t accept they are there. The first thing to do is recognize that the trauma is there.

Acknowledge the painful moments. Think back to childhood life and investigate moments that may have created problematic patterns of behavior.

Our pain doesn’t define our past. When we acknowledge trauma, we should also keep in mind that they’re not our entire childhood.  

When you find yourself caught in your bad habit, practice Mel’s 5-Second Rule. Count “5-4-3-2-1”. Take a quick breath. Ponder on the trauma behind it, acknowledge its presence, then let go.  

Identify, break, then replace. Once you’ve identified the traumatic moments, and have broken the patterns that come from it, build new patterns that help instead of holding you back.  

Confidence isn’t the precursor to action. It’s the by-product. Confidence follows action, and not the other way around.

Don’t be paralyzed by preparation. Even if after preparing, you still don’t feel ready, do it anyway. Commit to the action. Improvement and readiness, like confidence, will follow.

Life may have slowed down, but it hasn’t stopped. We can work on that blog we’ve been meaning to write. We can start that diet we’ve been meaning to try. We can call up that friend we’ve been meaning to talk to. We now have the time.  

Our voice is a small price to pay for helping make this world a safer place. Speak out. When we don’t speak out against injustice, those who perpetrate it won’t be held accountable.  

Applying It

• Build better habits. You can break free from bad habits by putting better ones in its place. It can be more nutritious food choices, more mindful rest days, or more productive weekends.
• Try new hobbies. Whether it’s a book you’ve been meaning to read, or a skill you’ve been meaning to learn, commit to taking the first step despite feelings of fear or unpreparedness.
• Practice Mel Robbins’s 5-Second Rule. When you find yourself repeating a bad habit, pause and breathe for 5 seconds. Put your behavior in perspective. Then stop what you’re about to do.
• Research on social issues. An informed mind makes rational decisions. When we’re better informed, we can be better equipped to help those around us without being swayed by propaganda and fearmongering.
• Speak out against injustice. We should hold people accountable, so that we can build a better community. When we’ve addressed acts of corruption and injustices, our society is better equipped to focus on the pandemic.

For a more in depth conversation, the distilld lessons (extended) are here.