Five By Five Rule

A few days ago, I read a quote (which I posted on Breeze Counseling’s Facebook page) which was very short, sweet, and to the point. It’s called the 5 By 5 Rule. It reads, “If it’s not gonna matter in 5 years, don’t spend more than 5 minutes upset by it.” What a great rule to live by!

1. Living by the 5 By 5 Rule

I think so often we get stuck in drama, unnecessary drama. At least for me, when someone adds emotion to a conversation, it makes it hard for me to stay focused and on task. Maybe, that’s because I’m a therapist.. just saying. No, but really, when someone adds emotion, the conversation makes a left turn. We find ourselves defending what we say or do. And other times, we go off topic and feed into the emotion. Stay grounded and connected to the black and white conversation. Try not to give emotion the power it so desperately wants but does not deserve.

2. 10 years from now…

I tend to hear and ask this question a lot… In 10 years from now, where do you see yourself? Ever been on a job interview and got asked that question? I do think it has some validity when it comes to handling dramatic filled situations. When you find yourself in a situation, ask yourself, “Will this matter in 5 or 10 years?” If the answer is “no” then don’t spend any more than 5 minutes on it. Move on. Sure, you might remember the general idea of what happened 5 years from now. But really, does it really matter?

My Take Away…

Here’s my take away for today. Live by the 5 By 5 rule. If it won’t matter in 5 years, don’t spend more than 5 minutes worrying, stressing, or thinking about it. Just stay focused. Pretend you are in a job interview and you get asked the 10 year question. If you’re answer is “no, I won’t remember,” then move on. 5 By 5.

Feel free to leave your comments here. What do you think of 5 By 5?