Building Your Self Care Kit #7: The 2-Minute Reset

I sometimes listen to the Tim Ferriss podcast, and I always listen when Tony Robbins is on. He was recently on the show (you can listen here, but there’s a LOT of talking. There’s a link on the page to the section on the ’90-second rule’ – that’s a good place to start) and offered one of the most helpful tools I’ve ever encountered. I’m now using this tool daily, especially right before I go to sleep. It is making a big difference in my ability to cope with life.

So, before we begin the 2-Minute Reset, I need you to think of a few things:

  1. a problem that is bugging you
  2. something you are very grateful for
  3. something else you are grateful for
  4. another thing you are grateful for

If you are like me, it might help to write down what you are grateful for.

Ok, now you’re ready. Here’s the 2-Minute Reset:

Put both your hands on your heart. Feel your heart beat. Breathe into your heart. If you are breathing rapidly, try to slow it down a bit. Don’t get wrapped up in breathing perfectly, just focus on your heartbeat. If you are more comfortable with your eyes closed, close them. If you’re more comfortable with them open (which a lot of folks who’ve experienced abuse are), keep them open.

Then, think of the first thing you are grateful for. Really sit with your gratitude, feeling it as intensely as you can. Do this for a while (45 seconds roughly), then move on to the second, then the third thing you are grateful for. Keep your hands on your heart, feeling the gratitude suffuse your heart.

At the end of 2 minutes, ask yourself, “What is the one thing I need to know or need to do about this problem?” And see what happens. Approaching problems from a calmer, more resourceful, gratitude-filled space yields very different answers than trying to solve it when you are stressed out.

Sometimes, I do this without wondering about a problem. It’s part of my bedtime routine now, and helps me fall asleep more quickly (I really struggle to fall asleep sometimes).

Let me know if this helps! Join me on Facebook and let’s chat. And if this helped you, please share it!

More soon,
dawn