The sweet power of morning practice
Have you ever found yourself setting your intention to build a morning practice, but you don’t follow through? Then, you re-set your intention, do it for a day or a week but you don’t stick to it? You might even ask yourself, is there real benefit to this?
To my surprise, I have discovered that I thrive with a morning routine. I cultivate a sweeter, more loving day for myself.
Research also reveals that a morning routine increases creativity and productivity, sets the tone for the day and allows you to stay focused more easily.
By trying different things and creating your own routine, you will discover what suits you best. Each person is unique.
However, there are some general guidelines that you might find helpful.
One way to think about morning practice is that it starts the night before, when you set your time to go to sleep and to wake up. The best sleep occurs when we are consistent with these two things.
Next, when you first open your eyes, before you get out of bed, turn your mind toward something positive like gratitude for what you have. Or love for your spouse or child.
Before I choose my morning drink, I scrape my tongue and use a neti pot to clear my sinuses (this small thing changed my life, no more dripping nose for me…thank you dear Mona!).
Next, choose a drink that delights you physically and emotionally. I find clarity and calm with a ginger, turmeric and honey drink or I might have something simple like warm lemon water.
My mat and cushion are set out already so that I move right to yoga postures and breathing practices that inspire and invigorate me—and add several planks for strengthening.
I conclude this part of my morning with my personal vision statement and then I move into creating food that I love. What makes you feel most energized?
A morning routine allows you to claim your day, to start with an intention rather than letting the day grab you. It starts you off with your own centre and focus.
As a holistic life coach who guides people through transformative change to find their purpose and reach for their goals, it’s really important that I live what I guide other people to do. Creating a unique, skillful morning routine that includes mind, heart, body & spirit is foundational.
When we focus on our heart desires, we create the possibility of seeing opportunities as they emerge.
In Creativity: Flow and the Psychology of Discovery and Invention, Mihály Csíkszentmihályi says, “You are what you pay attention to.”
Choose to start your day with a quality of attention that inspires you.
Susan Young is a professional certified life coach dedicated to guiding people through transformative change. info@susancoach.ca
