What’s Your Morning Ritual?

This is the view from my home office with which I start my day. Included are the sounds of birds chirping and a waterfall running, the sights of still water and fish swimming, the touch of a gentle breeze and the smell of flowers in full bloom.

I love waking up to a new day. I am grateful for it. It was not guaranteed. It’s an unwrapped gift I can’t wait to open. It contains possibility and opportunity.

How do you start your day? What’s your morning ritual? Do you have one? Actually, everyone has one. The better question is, “Is it intentional or accidental?”

When you wake up, do you feel like the day grabs you, straps you in and takes you for a ride? Alternatively, do you wake up and carve out time for yourself before you do anything else? I do.

Preferably, this time is spent sitting comfortably in my home office, a quiet space dedicated to my reflective and visualization work. I ask myself empowering questions and capture answers in a journal. I write down whatever comes up. This occupies the first 10 minutes of my day. I follow this up with a 5 minute breathing exercise, a 15 minute mindful walk and a 20 minute free weight workout.

This good habit sets the tone for my day. I don’t always feel like doing it, but I do it. In my experience, it’s the difference between being “on” and in the zone and being “off” and unbalanced. It calms my mind and allows me to align my goals with my purpose. It’s become second nature. I can’t imagine not doing it.

Do you want more out of life? There is comfort in blaming something else for your current status, for your circumstances. There is comfort in conforming. Time and time again, it’s been proven the same behaviors yield the same results. Are you happy with the results?

The quest to find meaning in life and discovering true joy is a marathon, not a sprint. It’s how you finish, not how you start. No matter what’s happened to you, good or bad, it’s in the past. Your successful future is determined by your good habits moving forward.

Life is journey about good and bad habits. We all need to form more good and less bad. The first step is to choose to have a morning ritual that’s intentional and points you in the right direction.

Nothing external to you controls you. You are in control of how you start your day.