Opposite Hour Is Here

In the Seinfeld episode titled The Opposite (Season 5, Episode 22), George Costanza decides to turn his life around by doing the exact opposite of his natural instincts. Tired of his ongoing failures and bad luck, he takes Jerry's advice to try "the opposite" of what he would typically do.

George begins making bold, unconventional choices: he orders a different meal, introduces himself to a woman he would normally avoid, and is remarkably honest during a job interview with the New York Yankees. To his surprise, his life improves drastically—he gets a girlfriend, lands a dream job with the Yankees, and enjoys newfound confidence and success.

It's easy to understand why a fictional character like George would employ such a strategy, but why might you—someone who is already successful, competent, and reasonably well-adjusted—consider adopting a similar approach?

The answer may surprise you: the vast majority of who we are... isn’t really us.

"You" are a composite of tons and tons of baggage, much of it handed to you by your parents, teachers, friends, neighbors, lovers, employers, and society as a whole. These influences are so pervasive that it's nearly impossible to separate "them" from "you."

Lately, I've been experimenting with something I call Opposite Hour.

For a total of one hour a day, I try not to be “me.”

I imagine a secure chest into which I deposit my beliefs, attitudes, biases, habits, and preferences—safely locked away, just for a little while.

Then, I sit quietly, or sometimes I take a walk. I leave my phone behind and avoid any music I would normally listen to. Occasionally, I pick my destination at random, to prevent "my" preferences from sneaking into Opposite Hour.

My intention is simple: for 60 minutes or so, I allow myself to escape the habit of being me.

Sometimes, it’s simply a relaxing break—a peaceful hour free from the noise of daily life.

Other times, I emerge from this space with a fresh perspective, a burst of creativity, or a new idea that surprises even me.

There’s no downside to this practice. Unlike alcohol, drugs, or losing your temper with loved ones, it has no negative side effects.

What’s most important is this: Opposite Hour opens a door. It offers you the opportunity to step into a version of yourself that is less shaped by past experiences and more guided by your heart and soul.

So why not give it a try? Let yourself take a break from being "you" for just an hour. I’d love to hear how it goes for you.

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Bruce Kasanoff is the founder of Bend Reality and Meditate for Peace , as well as the creator of GrowX2 , a system for doubling the revenues of your company.