The High 5 Habit: Take Control of Your Life with One Simple Habit

“But when it comes to celebrating and encouraging yourself, you not only fall seriously short—you do the opposite. You trash yourself. You look at yourself in the mirror and pick yourself apart. You tear yourself down and argue against your own goals and dreams. You bend over backward for other people and never for yourself. It’s time to give yourself the encouragement you deserve and you need. Self-worth, self-esteem, self-love, and self-confidence all begin by building those attributes within your SELF.”

Robbins identifies the fundamental problem that undermines personal growth: The tendency to extend kindness and generosity to others while withholding it from oneself. This internal criticism creates a destructive cycle that erodes confidence and blocks growth. The quote directly connects to Robbins’s core recommendation to Replace Self-Criticism With a Daily Ritual of Self-Celebration, establishing the necessity for the high-five habit.

“You have a beautiful life right in front of you, and you can’t see it. You have an incredible future that is just waiting for you to take control and create it. You have the most amazing ally, hype squad, and secret weapon staring at you in the mirror—and you ignore them. If you want to play a big game in life or just be happier, you must wake up and start treating yourself way better than you have been. It starts with that moment every morning, face-to-face with yourself in the mirror.”

The author emphasizes that individuals possess untapped potential but fail to recognize their own capacity for self-support and encouragement. Robbins positions the daily mirror ritual as a critical intervention that can shift self-neglect to self-advocacy. This quote establishes that one’s morning encounter with the mirror can either reinforce self-doubt or inspire self-confidence for the day ahead.

“Here’s the thing that’s been a revelation to me: you can work hard, while being soft with your soul. You can take chances, screw up, and learn the lesson, without burying yourself in shame. You can have huge ambitions and still treat yourself and others with gentle kindness. You can face really hard and terrible situations in life and double down on optimism, resilience, and faith to get you through. When you stop making yourself wrong for how you’re feeling, you’ll immediately feel better.”

Robbins challenges the false dichotomy between achievement and self-compassion, demonstrating that personal success doesn’t require self-punishment or harsh internal criticism. The revelation centers on accepting one’s emotions without judgment while maintaining forward momentum toward goals. This perspective supports the recommendation to Replace Self-Criticism With a Daily Ritual of Self-Celebration by showing how individuals can pursue ambitious objectives while maintaining psychological safety and emotional well-being.