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5 Ways to Kickstart Your Morning

Healing | Health

How often do you wake up full of energy, clear, calm, and ready to take on anything the world throws at you? Yeah, me neither. The question is why? And there are as many answers as there are people out there.

So perhaps it's time to move beyond the why question to the question of what?

The “Drive-Thru” Kickstart to a Fabulous Day

These days, lots of folks are overworked, under nourished, sleep deprived, and challenged by the concept of self-care (ain't nobody got time for that). The truth is, our lives are becoming convenience driven. Which, in a nutshell, means that solutions must be simple, convenient, and dare I say it, inspired.

So here's what can help you now. Five simple, powerful, and convenient things to do every morning before you get out of bed in order to put you on the road to an authentically inspired and productive day.

1. Let Go

Our subconscious mind does as much work during the night as our conscious minds do during the day, and perhaps even more. There's an overload of information, a lot of which we really don't need.

Deepak Chopra suggests that we take time every morning to review the entirety of the evening's dream activity and then… let it go. Start the day intentionally by clearing the mental slate, leaving yourself open the possibility that awaits in the waking hours.

2. Remember

I often call that slip of time between waking up and getting out of bed the “Magic Hour” (even though it's a little closer to ten minutes). It's a time when the energy of my world is quiet and I can hear and speak to my soul.

This window of time before you get out of bed is the optimal time to connect with yourself, your voice, your desires, and your reality. As Dr. Vasant Lad says, "it's important to take time before you get out of bed to remember who you are."

Not sure how? Start with these four questions. Don't worry too much about the answers, it's the asking that's the most important part.

  • Who am I?
  • What do I want?
  • What is my purpose?
  • What am I grateful for?

Write the answers in a journal if you're so inclined, or just allow your soul to speak to you uninterrupted.

3. Stretch

The morning body is often cold and stiff. Being good to yourself begins with thoughtful, deliberate movements meant to nurture your energy and send a message to the mind and body that you are loved, worthy, and capable of creating an amazing day!

Simple stretches to wake the body up while giving it love at the same time is also one of the best ways to avoid injuries from the shock of moving before the joints have a chance to fully “wake up.”

4. Breathe

They say that the breath is the doorway to consciousness. But most us are experiencing life with that “door” barely half-way open, or tightly shut.

Our breath is one of the most underused tools for managing our moods, emotions, stress, and anxiety. An early morning practice of conscious breathing can tune you in to the power of the breath and prepare you for using it when you need it most throughout the day, and your life.

So take a few minutes every morning to just… breathe.

5. Commit

The challenge of being our best selves often falls prey to the lure of distraction. What's the difference between an ordinary life and an extraordinary one? One word. Commitment.

What are you committed to? If you're not sure about the answer, you might not be living your best life. Commitments are a powerful way of reminding ourselves of what matters most. They don't have to be crazy, they don't even have to be permanent, but what they can be is a beacon of power when life's many distractions threaten to drag you off course.

Not sure what to commit to? Deepak Chopra suggests starting with a joyful energetic body, a loving, compassionate heart, a restful, reflective, and alert mind, and a sense of ease and lightness of being. This is an especially powerful combination, because the mind is at the center of our experience of living. So committing to a way of being has the potential to drive your thoughts and your actions in the right direction!

Why it Really Isn't a Question of Time

Now all this isn't gonna take you a ton of time (just in case you were wondering). If it takes you more than about ten minutes, chances are you need it. And, as Tony Robbins says, “If you think you don't have ten minutes to devote to yourself, you definitely need it!”

So stick with it, and over time you'll find yourself lighter, brighter and more deeply connected to the life you've always dreamed of. And what's more, you'll have a simple and convenient set of habits that will leave you clear, inspired, and motivated to keep dreaming!

How do you kickstart your morning? Share with us below!

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