What Is Mel Robbins' High Five Habit for Transforming Self-Criticism Into Self-Love?

TL;DR

Mel Robbins’ High Five Habit is a morning practice for replacing self-criticism with self-support: after brushing your teeth, look at yourself in the mirror without speaking and high-five your reflection. Robbins says she discovered it during an anxious, overwhelming morning in April 2020. Read on to understand the problem it targets, how to practice it, and why she chose a physical gesture instead of a pep talk.

Transcript

I'm on a mission to get every human being in the world to add one simple thing to their morning routine and it is called the high five habit and here's what it is every morning after you brush your teeth and you get that gunk out of your mouth so you're not spreading that nasty breath everywhere okay I want you to take a moment put your toothbrush ... Read More

Key Insights

• 🤳 The High Five Habit acts as a practical tool for individuals to counter self-criticism and self-rejection.
• ✋ By high-fiving oneself in the mirror, individuals create a neuro association of support and celebration, which can positively impact their self-perception.
• 🤳 The habit helps individuals prioritize self-care and self-support, leading to improved mental and emotional well-being.
• 🤳 Overcoming resistance to the High Five Habit requires understanding the importance of self-compassion and self-acceptance.
• 🥺 The practice of the High Five Habit can bring about a shift in mindset, leading to increased self-confidence and a healthier relationship with oneself.
• 🥶 The High Five Habit is a free and accessible practice that can be incorporated into one's morning routine with minimal time commitment.

Questions & Answers

Q: What is Mel Robbins’ High Five Habit?

The High Five Habit is a morning practice of looking at the person in the mirror and giving them a high five. Mel Robbins presents it as a simple way to offer yourself support and encouragement instead of beginning the day with criticism and rejection.

Q: How do you practice the High Five Habit?

Every morning, brush your teeth, put down your toothbrush, and look at the human being in the mirror. Without saying anything, raise your hand and high-five your reflection.

Q: When did Mel Robbins discover the High Five Habit?

Robbins says she first high-fived herself one morning in April 2020. She was overwhelmed, her anxiety had returned, her dream job was gone, her business was imploding, and her children were experiencing grief, anger, and frustration during the pandemic.

Q: Why does the High Five Habit use a physical gesture instead of a pep talk?

Robbins says that when people feel overwhelmed or extremely low, they may not believe a pep talk because it does not match how they feel. On the morning she developed the habit, she could not think of anything to say, so she simply raised her hand and high-fived herself.

Q: What problem does Mel Robbins say the High Five Habit addresses?

Robbins says the fundamental problem is relentless self-criticism and self-rejection. She connects that pattern with unhappiness, dissatisfaction, difficulty accepting compliments, and discomfort with being celebrated.

Q: How can looking in the mirror become an act of self-rejection?

Robbins says people may focus on what they dislike about their appearance or think about everything they have not done correctly. This can start the day with a mental beatdown rather than respect, acceptance, or encouragement.

Q: What did Mel Robbins’ research find about people looking in the mirror?

Robbins says her research found that 50% of men and women do not or cannot look at themselves in the mirror. She says they may feel disgusted by or disappointed in the person they see.

Q: How is the High Five Habit different from Mel Robbins’ 5-Second Rule?

Robbins calls the 5-Second Rule extraordinary, but says it does not address what she considers the fundamental issue. The High Five Habit focuses specifically on self-judgment, self-rejection, acceptance, and becoming someone you respect and encourage.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Definition: The High Five Habit means looking at yourself in the mirror each morning and high-fiving your reflection without saying anything.

• Step 1: Brush your teeth as part of your morning routine.

• Step 2: Put down your toothbrush and look at the human being in the mirror.

• Step 3: Take a moment to see that person as worthy of support and encouragement.

• Step 4: Raise your hand and high-five the person you see in the mirror.

• When: Mel Robbins first performed the habit during an overwhelming morning in April 2020.

• Definition: Robbins identifies relentless self-criticism and self-rejection as a fundamental source of unhappiness and dissatisfaction.

• Number: Robbins says her research found that 50% of men and women do not or cannot look at themselves in the mirror.

• Compare: The 5-Second Rule does not address self-rejection, while the High Five Habit focuses on acceptance, respect, and encouragement.

• Who: Robbins describes discovering the habit despite being the number one female motivational speaker in the world and hosting 175 shows a year.

• Tool: The silent high five offers encouragement when a spoken pep talk does not match how overwhelmed or low someone feels.