Power is a state of being where there is no fear. - Dona Rosita
Can you remember a day you woke up and felt completely energized, balanced and fearless to face the tasks of your day? Where your eyes flew open, you took a deep breath in and smiled to greet the day, and just rolled out of bed, already winning the fight against gravity, because you were so excited to move, to live, to make that day count?
How many of those days do you have in a week? In a month? In a year?
It's winter, it's cold out, and we're all in hibernation mode. It's easy to let the weather chase you back under the covers. It's harder to get revved up.
Go back to that memory of that kickass morning - think back to those first few moments of waking - what was your first thought as your eyes opened? Was there something special going on that day, some incentive or exciting event or challenge that motivated you to start the morning with focus, care and the desire to kickass? Maybe it was a performance, or a presentation, or an exam. Maybe it was a date or a party. Whatever it was, it probably provided you with the motivation to wait a few moments as you focused on that incentive, then spring into action, take the time to have a good breakfast, take the time to really groom and prepare yourself, to stretch or perhaps run, to get your blood pumping and your energy flowing.
Why not map over that ritual - from the moment you open your eyes to the moment you step out the door - of that kickass day - to every day?
It sounds easy enough - obvious enough, right? Lots of people do it - a disciplined ritual that happens every morning, no matter what - even if that means a forced restart.
1. Open your eyes and smile.
Even if you don't know why you should smile. Just do it. 10 seconds of fake smiling and you'll have a genuine smile just because you'll feel silly fake smiling.
2. Wiggle and Stretch.
Starting with your toes, through your ankles, and let that shimmy wiggle travel all the way up your body. Let yourself squirm under the covers, just to activate your connection with your body, and enjoy movement. Take a cue from cats and dogs - have one of those big body yawning stretches, to get oxygen into your bloodstream - point your toes and reach your arms over your head and just let yourself expand!
3. Give thanks.
Counting your blessings gets your mind focusing on the positive. Taking inventory of everything you have - especially the very basics - like food, shelter, health, the love and support of family and friends - starts the day off with a mindset of abundance. Too often we start off thinking about the lack. Focus on abundance, walk in abundance.
4. Set a challenge.
Setting a goal, however small, gives purpose to your day. Making your goal a challenge engages you in the Game of Life, where you're creating your own rules and rewards. Purpose generates energy. Just lying in bed, visualizing a goal for the day, can help you to generate energy - allowing the hemispheres of your brain to activate by giving yourself specific goals and letting yourself know how much energy will be needed for the day. When you take a few minutes to create your day, you are sketching out a map and accompanying directions for the flow of your thoughts and energy. As you do this, you convince yourself of the value and incentive of your own actions - just as you do when you wake up on the day of an important performance, presentation, meeting or date - and this alone triumphs over any torpor!
5. Create your State with Music!
I don't care if it's Eye of the Tiger, Wagner's Ride of the Valkyries, Journey's Don't Stop Believin, Outkast's Hey Ya or MJ's Man in the Mirror - starting your morning off with music that you associate with an upsurge of energy can cajole you into some toothbrushing booty-shakin. If you feel the urge to dance, DON'T FIGHT IT!
Remember the power you have to create your day, to generate energy, to shape your own thoughts and point your will towards your goal with enthusiasm and focus. Remember your power. When you wake up - TURN IT ON. Wake in it, walk in it.
What do you call your power state? Do you know how you get there? Do you have a map you can follow so you can get there every day? I've based my hypnotherapy practice around what I call the Optimal Mindset - which is the state of flow, of inspiration - a mindset of center and balance, a state where you operate with grace, confidence, skill and dynamic adaptability, performing at your best in every situation, from the moment you open your eyes to greet the day!
Where do you find all of these quotes?!
Posted by: John Scott Lewinski | August 10, 2006 at 04:01 PM
Excellent suggestions. Very easy-to-do tips. Thanks for making my day.
Posted by: Alcohol Rehab | October 13, 2006 at 07:19 AM