| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
When you jump out of bed every morning, all fired up with enthusiasm, motivation and eagerness to... Huh?
What's that? You don't do much jumping in the mornings?
Well, okay, when you slide out of bed every morning, not so eager or enthusiastic...does your mind flash on all the things you'll GET to do today, or is it filled with all the things you've GOT to do today?
What's the difference, you ask? As a youngster would answer - it's the difference between waking up thinking "It's Christmas Day" or thinking "I've got a Final Exam today."
Several of us live as though we're facing Final Exams every single day. Each sunrise brings more battles, more struggles and more frustration.
Meanwhile, many people really do wake up eager. They're rarin' to go as soon as the light hits their face. But how do they do that? What's their secret?
It's a Choice
Would you believe they don't have any secret? They just choose to like what's happening to them. Even the so-called "bad" stuff is treated with respect and dealt with as a potential learning experience - something to profit from - maybe even fun (with slight adjustments in attitude). They chose the sunny-side instead of the dark-side.
Try switching stations
You have a radio, right? And when you turn the knob, the station changes. All those programs, every one of them, is in the air around you. But when you dial the radio, you're selecting just one from among all those thousands of signals.
And when you wake up in the morning, your dial can be set wherever you want it. Happy; sad; eager; dreading; energetic.
If you're not quite satisfied with the daily programming you're receiving, it's not hard to change it. But you do have to do it yourself. Nobody - I mean nobody - is going to come in and reset your dial for you.
- Instead of focusing on what's not working, switch to focusing on what is working - no matter how small. Say it out loud or write it down daily so you are giving it attention it deserves.
- Start a Gratitude Journal. Each night before you go to bed, list 5 things you are grateful for. Then write why you are grateful for each one.
- Post-It® notes. Create 10 notes to post in your home, car and workplace with words or phrases that remind you to keep on the sunny side of life.
- Try setting your alarm 15 minutes early and go on a short walk by yourself, meditate or take a long, hot shower while you visualize you succeeding. Hold that picture in your mind throughout the day.
- The second you find your thoughts going to the dark-side, have a favorite word, phrase, song or image that helps you snap out of it so you can refocus on the sunshine.
So if your mental dial is stuck on station W-O-N-T change it to W-I-L-L. From W-O-E-S to W-I-S-E. Soon you'll discover the difference you can make in the way you wake up every morning and conduct your day.