A Morning Ritual
Do you ever wake up with sad or worrisome thoughts?
I do, from time to time, and I've come to notice a kind of nervous system unrest that often carries over from everyday life: politics, the environment, the passing of loved ones, or just what my body feels like as I get older.
Those less-than-helpful thoughts usually get submerged beneath whatever needs attending to once I'm up, but I've found there's a much better way to alchemize them by engaging with what brings me joy.
And that's having a morning ritual.
What I do probably won't look like what you do, but the point is to reorient ourselves so our hearts are steeped in delight, acceptance and a sense of possibility.
This isn't to say I bypass those heavier emotions—just the opposite: I acknowledge their presence so they can be transmuted into something more positive that I can return to throughout the day.
For me, music is a powerful way to shift my thoughts. Often I'll doodle or sketch or paint, letting colors swirl and pop and drawing lines that circle and bounce. Most mornings I share my chair with my two cats as I drink my freshly brewed tea. And spending a few moments letting my breath reconnect me with gratitude and love is grounding.
I've become more and more aware of how precious and uplifting this time can be before I get on with my day. I find it creates a grounding leverage on several levels: spiritual, psychological and physiological.
Spending these precious first moments of the day creates a reserve of energy to face the rest of the day.
There's a surplus of positive feelings that provides a definite advantage when daily stressors arise.
If you're looking for a way to start your day on the right footing, consider a ritual that works for you—as an intentional way to meet your life before it overtakes you. Just a few minutes can help you decide the tone of your day, rather than inheriting it from whatever thoughts appear when you first wake up.
This is simply about finding what works for you. Because when you begin the day from a place of lightness and joy—however briefly—you find that whatever the day may hold for you, you've already aligned yourself with what matters.
I do, from time to time, and I've come to notice a kind of nervous system unrest that often carries over from everyday life: politics, the environment, the passing of loved ones, or just what my body feels like as I get older.
Those less-than-helpful thoughts usually get submerged beneath whatever needs attending to once I'm up, but I've found there's a much better way to alchemize them by engaging with what brings me joy.
And that's having a morning ritual.
What I do probably won't look like what you do, but the point is to reorient ourselves so our hearts are steeped in delight, acceptance and a sense of possibility.
This isn't to say I bypass those heavier emotions—just the opposite: I acknowledge their presence so they can be transmuted into something more positive that I can return to throughout the day.
For me, music is a powerful way to shift my thoughts. Often I'll doodle or sketch or paint, letting colors swirl and pop and drawing lines that circle and bounce. Most mornings I share my chair with my two cats as I drink my freshly brewed tea. And spending a few moments letting my breath reconnect me with gratitude and love is grounding.
I've become more and more aware of how precious and uplifting this time can be before I get on with my day. I find it creates a grounding leverage on several levels: spiritual, psychological and physiological.
Spending these precious first moments of the day creates a reserve of energy to face the rest of the day.
There's a surplus of positive feelings that provides a definite advantage when daily stressors arise.
If you're looking for a way to start your day on the right footing, consider a ritual that works for you—as an intentional way to meet your life before it overtakes you. Just a few minutes can help you decide the tone of your day, rather than inheriting it from whatever thoughts appear when you first wake up.
This is simply about finding what works for you. Because when you begin the day from a place of lightness and joy—however briefly—you find that whatever the day may hold for you, you've already aligned yourself with what matters.