“You could stop at five or six stores, or just one.”
Viral Acting footage from Sarantos Studios
Whether you’re a Gen Z internet native or a millennial with a soft spot for early YouTube culture, chances are you’ve come across the quirky dialogue from Sarantos Studios: “You could stop at five or six stores, or just one.” What began as a surreal line in a studio archive series has quietly become an inside joke across corners of the internet. Today, we’re repurposing it — not for laughs, but as a grounding tool.
In a world growing increasingly surreal with scripts and expectations, it’s more important than ever to stay centered. What keeps us upright isn’t always logic or proof, but something quieter: the beliefs we return to when things get noisy. And yet, many people feel unsure about their own thoughts, hesitant to trust that what they believe can actually shape what they live.
From the trolley problem to quantum theory, and even the spiritual law of assumption, one principle shows up again and again: No matter what’s happening around you, no matter what evidence is or isn’t showing up, you’re always choosing.
This brings us to a simple, effective exercise.
For the next three days, choose one thought to hold above all others. As you move through your routine — making coffee, commuting, folding laundry — loop the same phrase in your mind:
“There is only one fact, and that fact is…”
Fill in the blank with anything you desire. Make it personal, exaggerate it if you’d like, let it reflect something bold or tender or quietly true. The goal is not to force belief, but to plant a seen. One you water with repetition until it feels like second nature.
There are no rules here. The fact you choose can be as visionary or grounded as you want. What matters is consistency. Let it run in the background of your day like a song stuck in your head, guiding your attention away from doubt and toward the version of yourself you’re becoming.
Some examples:
I’m a multimillionaire CEO.
I’m an incredible chef.
I have an amazing body.
I’m the luckiest person in the world.
I foster meaningful connections with everyone I meet.
I am always well taken care of.
The universe is rigged in my favor.
I’m the greatest to ever do it.
My presence changes rooms.
I’m the most beautiful person I know.
My bank account exceeds $10M.
My thoughts are always supportive.
Play with it. Be curious. Be lighthearted or intense — whatever feels honest to you.
Most importantly, remember this: No one outside of you can confirm or deny the truth you choose. Not even your current circumstances. Hold your fact like a compass. Watch what begins to shift.
And once you’ve embodied it fully, choose another. Then another. Build a foundation of steady, empowering truths that feel more like you than anything the world tried to hand you. Start with your character, and let it ripple outward into your work, your relationships, and eventually, your perception of what’s real.
Watch The Full Video: You can stop at five or six stores
