Building Antifragile Confidence: Flip the Switch

This morning, I came across a powerful quote while reviewing impactful quotes from books I’ve read. Thank you, Readwise! Viktor E. Frankl said,

“Forces beyond your control can take away everything you possess except one thing, your freedom to choose how you will respond to the situation. You cannot control what happens to you in life, but you can always control what you will feel and do about what happens to you.”

This idea is at the heart of building antifragile confidence.

Understanding Antifragile Confidence

Antifragile confidence, as we explore in our Heroic Coach community, is about thriving in the face of challenges. It’s about becoming stronger because of the stress and difficulties we encounter, not in spite of them. Frankl’s insight is a reminder that our greatest power lies in our response to life’s challenges. We may not control external events, but we have absolute control over our reactions.

The Power of Choice

One powerful tool we use to cultivate this antifragile confidence is the Flip the Switch practice. This practice is about taking a moment when you feel overwhelmed or stressed and flipping your mindset from victim to hero. It’s about choosing to see obstacles as opportunities to grow stronger. Brian Johnson, explains well this idea of antifragile confidence in these two videos.

Frankl also said,

“Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.”

The Flip the Switch practice is a perfect tool to fill that space with proactive and positive action. Here’s how you can start:

Flip the Switch: Body, Breath, Mind, and Action

BODY

Stand tall with your chest up and chin down. Feel your feet firmly grounded. Imagine a string pulling you upward from the top of your head. Hold yourself with dignity, like royalty, a matador in the arena, or a superhero assuming a power pose.

BREATHE

Your breath connects your mind and body. By controlling your breath, you can control your emotions. Breathe deeply in and out through your nose. Fill your belly with air and then exhale, making the exhale slightly longer than the inhale. Keep your breath steady and calm.

MIND

Pick a word or short phrase that inspires you and keeps you focused. It could be something like “courage,” “strength,” or “I’m ready.” This mantra should remind you to be the best version of yourself today. You can change it up as you see fit.

ACTION

Now that you’ve prepared yourself, take the next step towards what’s important. This could be finishing a task, making an apology, or starting a creative project. The key is to take action that aligns with your values.

You can also watch Brian explain the Flip the Switch practice in the video below.

Embrace the Journey

By practicing Flip the Switch, you exercise your freedom to choose your response, just as Viktor Frankl described. You transform challenges into opportunities for growth, building antifragile confidence that becomes unshakeable over time. Take a moment now to practice the Flip the Switch process and see how it empowers you.

So, the next time you face a tough situation, remember: you have the power to choose your response. You can flip the switch and turn adversity into your greatest ally. Embrace the journey, and let every challenge make you stronger. Here’s to becoming the best, most heroic version of ourselves, one flipped switch at a time.

Originally posted at: https://wkevingilbert.me/building-antifragile-confidence-flip-the-switch/