Morning Routines That Make Your Day

We often blame people, situations or circumstances for the times when we have a bad day, but what we fail to realize is that no one has the power to ruin our day but us.  What we say and do when we wake up determines the direction that our day will take. 

I've found that I am far more productive when I have a morning ritual that sets a positive tone for the rest of my day. Each morning I wake up by 9am at the latest so that I can watch Creflo Dollar's television program, Changing Your World.  During the show I eat a healthy breakfast and after the show I read the Bible.  That entire process takes 30 minutes to an hour and it's my jump start to setting my day in the right direction.  Not only do I have the inspiration that I need to keep me going, but I've also started off with a nutritious meal that will increase my energy and metabolism.

Here are a few routines that I recommend to get your day off to the right start.  Choose one that works for you, or come up with your own and start tomorrow. :)

A Daily Affirmation

Memorize or post positive words and say them out loud.  My favorite affirmation is, "I am now open to receive."  I love this one because a lot of times we say that we want better things in life like money, joy or love...but the truth is that we are not ready or open to receive those things. 

A dear friend and colleague of mine overcame a very serious disease.  When I asked her how she did it her answer was, "Daily Affirmations".

Meditation and Prayer

Setting aside a specific time for focused meditation and prayer may be the only time of peace and quiet for most of you who I know have hectic lives and schedules.  Take this time to give thanks for all that you have, and to ask for all that you want or need.  Also, use this time to take some deep restorative breaths, because how often do you go through the entire day without taking a deep breath?  I know that I've been guilty of this offense, so let's all stop what we are doing right now and take a deep breath....Ahhhh... Now doesn't that feel good?  So make meditation, prayer and deep breathing a part of your day right from the start!

Exercise

Whether it is stretching, Yoga, or a brisk walk or run, some type of movement each morning is a great way to start your day.  Believe it or not, it increases your energy throughout the day.  I also like the idea that if I get it done in the morning, I am less likely to put it off and end up skipping it all together.

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So these are just a few ideas, but I encourage you to try something that works for you because ultimately, the tone, energy and flow of your day is up to you so why not make it positive! :)

Put It In your Workout

When I was in high school I had an amazing acting teacher that would always say, “Put it in your work!” What she meant was that we needed to take the energy that we spent being angry, upset, sad, or emotional and put it into our work on the stage. I have since moved from the stage to the page as far as my artistic career goes, but that saying has always stuck with me.

I definitely “Put it in my work” when it comes to writing, but lately I’ve decided to do the same thing when it comes to exercise.

I was watching Creflo Dollar one day and he said, “We can’t stop birds from flying around our head, but we can stop them from building a nest in our hair.” He used this saying to illustrate how we don’t have to entertain all of the thoughts that cross our mind. He then went on to tell a story about how he had the strangest thought. He said he was in a store one day standing behind an old lady when he thought, “What if I just pushed her?” I laughed so hard when I heard him say that, but the truth is that in addition to all of the other emotions that we have daily, no matter how nice we are, we often just want to punch or slap someone.

So where can we place these thoughts and feelings in order to avoid carrying them out?

“Put it in your work OUT!”

That is one of the main reasons that I took up kickboxing. It is the best stress reliever. When I am in front of a 100 pound punching bag with my gloves on I picture all of the people and things that frustrate me and I take it out on that bag. It’s a much safer and healthier alternative to putting the smack down on someone. The same is the case with any type of exercise. Take all of that built up resentment, worry, frustration and irritation and “Put it in your work out!”
The benefits are endless. You will lose weight, feel great….and avoid catching a case. So the next time someone or something gets under your skin... “Put it in your work out!”