Three Steps to Start Your Day Off Right; and four more to take it to the next level.
I’m a firm believer that the first few moments of our days are critical for setting the tone of the day. I go through seven steps, but I feel the first three are the most critical. The first three are the most simple, but their simplicity makes them easy to put on the wayside while we tackle the “major challenges.”
1. Smile.
Nothing sets me off on the right foot like smiling. Smile through the hangover or the poor night’s sleep. It’s worth it. My daughter’s an early riser. Some mornings her little eyes will find the new day at five a.m. When she calls out “Daddy”, it’s so easy to smile and say “Good morning Jellybean.”It makes her day and mine. This is the least time-consuming, and easiest way we can make our days and the days of those whom we hold dear better. I hear of people who say they’re not morning people. If we’re up…we’re morning people. Paint a smile on that puss and look at the day as something we get to do.
2. Sit.
This is what I’m all about. Take that half hour and sit. Do it any way you like, but do it. Take the time to commune with All That Is. Breathe. Settle in, and settle down. Getting past the first few moments is the hardest part but once we’ve past a certain point it’s easy, and I always feel better after sitting. It brings a sense of calm into the world. If you don’t have time to sit for a half hour take at least five minutes to just be. Listen to your heart and learn from it.
3. Exercise.
If it’s stretching, Yoga, or Aikido. Find the time to work in a workout. Running is my morning workout of choice, when I lived closer to the Dojo Aikido took precedence, but these days running seems to work great. Put on some music and just move your body. Anthony Robbins talks in his “Get the Edge” series about having an “Hour of Power.” This has changed my life. Find your own hour of power and do it. The more in tune we are with our bodies the better off we’ll be throughout the day.
These are the most important steps. I mentioned that I have seven so I’ll share the last four as well. Depending on the type of work you do and your personality these may help, and then again some may just consider these as useless as man-nipples but if it helps please feel free to give them a try.
4.Plan out your day.
Take a look at what you have to do. Put it into your schedule and prioritize. (nothing new but we often forget) Without a set direction for the day it can drag, and nothing about life should drag.
5.Visualize. Visualize. Visualize.
What do you want to accomplish short and long term look at these things. See them, feel them, smell and taste them. Get your whole sensory field involved. It will make it more real and will help work through some of the blocks.
6.Appreciate.
Feel some gratitude for everything you have. Gratitude is what powers the machine. The more appreciation we have in our lives the more we’ll focus on what is right. The more we focus on what’s right the more “what’s right” we make in our lives. Be thankful for everything. If you can’t find something to be thankful for (I doubt anyone who’s at a site like this has that problem) make it up for the future. Be thankful for something that hasn’t happened yet. When I was a child this was part of our dinner conversation. We each had to bring something to the table for which we were grateful. If I could do it as a teenager anybody can do it. 
7.Tell someone close to you that you love them/Spread the Gratitude
Compliment. Whether we tell our children that they have a beautiful smile or, our spouses that we appreciate everything they do it’s spreading the gratitude. Spread the gratitude. It’ll pay off.
Peace.
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succinct post sitting fool. I wish to work on my gratitude and sitting elements. Parry of the UK
Thanks for the comment. I need to work on my running. Maybe we can work out a deal. See if we can get that poodle to help me with my pose technique.
http://princepari.blogspot.com/
Interesting. This is a test.
Excellent advice!
I already do 2, 3, 6, and 7. I need to do more of 1 – smile.
Hi Roger,
Thanks for the comment. Your beaming smile in your gravatar makes me think you’ve got #1 down.
I really enjoyed your “Raising Sane Children” post http://www.acontentlife.com/2009/04/raising-sane-children/ . One of those that every parent should read.
What great ideas! I think it’s so important to start the day off right and you have some great ideas for doing so (and for keeping things good!). Thanks for posting these ideas — they’re great!
Thanks for the comment Positively Present. I enjoyed your most recent post as well on how to stop distorting thoughts
http://positivelypresent.typepad.com/positively_present/2009/05/10-ways-you-distort-your-thoughts-and-how-to-stop-it.html
Peace always.
Here`s an interesting dude-man 4 U 2 check out:
http://www.ascentofhumanity.com/
His blog @: http://www.ascentofhumanity.blogspot.com/
In other news, how dare you suggest that man-nipples are useless!
I am proficient in a martial art, so I will hurt you the next time I see you…
Only, I have no idea how to attack anyone, so I shall have to taunt you into attacking me in order for me to use my deadly knowledge upon you.
I bet if I make fun of your man-nipples, you will snap, and attack me.
So, you see; you were wrong. Man-nipples are there to be made fun of, so we can use our art upon unsuspecting attackers.
We got the skirt. We got the nipples. I`m betting it`s only a matter of time before the man-bra is compulsory at the dojo. Or is it “manzier”, as Seinfeld had it?
In any event, no amount of contemplated meditative equanimity will save you from reacting violently to having your man-nipples ridiculed!!!!
Before any of that stuff I like to see what my first thought I’m aware of when I wake up. This tends to expose another side to my perspective for the day. Otherwise I’ll feel forced to be a certain way with the list and will wonder why my day was so stressful regardless of my intent. Just me.
The article is ver good. Write please more
This is great advice Foolio. Can I call you that? (peace and joy)
Seriously, this is a great service. Awesome to meet you. We’ll talk more for sure.
Blessings on your divine journey,
turiya
Kelly and Turiya,
Thanks for the comments. Awesome to meet you as well.
Please call me Foolio. I like it. Translates to “rebel” in Japanese, not far off
Peace Always,
The FOol
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