Consider this:
The most important relationship that you will ever have in your lifetime is the one that you have with yourself.
We all have so many relationships in our lifetimes; some of them intimate, some fleeting, others from a distance and then there are others that will define and shape the person that we become. But we rarely, if ever, consider the relationship that we have with ourselves.
In previous posts I have talked a lot about ways that you can improve your relationship with yourself. From the importance of positive self talk and letting go of things that no longer serve you, to protecting your energy, raising your standards and even shifting your mindset, I've pretty much covered all of the bases.
However, there is one thing that I have not yet discussed that I have discovered about successful people. They all have one really important thing in common. They all make the most of their mornings and have strict mindful morning routines with themselves to ensure that they start everyday at their absolute best. From entrepreneurs, performers and celebrities to religious figure heads and leaders across the globe; it's unanimous that a mindful morning routine is one of the most important and simple things to have in your self care toolkit.
There is really nothing quite as powerful as the beginning of a new day to reboot our minds and give us a fresh outlook on the day ahead. And best of all, you don't even have to be rising with the morning sun to get the best kick start to your day. Having a mindful morning routine can be as simple as getting up 30 minutes earlier to practise a little self care.
Why not give it a try for yourself. Here is a five step process that could help you to incorporate a little more mindfulness into your day, everyday.
1. Make sure you get enough sleep.
You can't really expect to be all peppy and mindful in the morning if you're not getting a good night's sleep. Make sure that you get an adequate amount of rest each evening and set up a good sleep routine. Check out my blog post on the science of sleep and creating a good sleep routine if you need some help with this. www.spicywatch.com/blog/the-science-of-sleep
2. Train yourself to get up earlier.
Sounds obvious enough, until the alarm goes off and you reach for the snooze button. Try to increase the time that you rise by 10-15 mins each week until you reach the desired amount of extra morning time that you require to practise some uninterrupted mindfulness.
3. Decide on what you're going to put into your mindful mornings.
It could be meditation, gratitude journaling, yoga, a mindful tea drinking ritual, mindful walking or being creative with art supplies. It's really up to you to find the thing that will guide you happily into your day and set you up for a terrific start.
4. The Act of Mindfulness.
Now that you have a plan, you have to put it into practise - mindfully. This is where the real work begins because you may struggle with being mindful a little at first. Being mindful means that for at least 30 minutes you will immerse yourself into your chosen activity completely and uninterruptedly. You will not go off to do other things, you will not turn on any devices and check emails or apps, you will not quit and when your mind wanders off to your 'to do' list for the day, you will need to purposefully and intentionally pull it back to you and your chosen activity.
5. Go slowly and appreciate the silence.
Don't rush, it is first thing in the morning after all! You can't hurry love and you also can't rush a good mindful morning routine. It takes time to establish but it is worth the effort. Try to be gentle with yourself and the process. Take in the quiet and appreciate how good it feels to be alive. Here's a great mindful mantra to say to yourself upon rising:
As I open my eyes,
I awaken to the beauty and freshness of this moment,
A whole new 24 hours has been given to me,
I will live it mindfully,
Appreciating deeply every moment of it.
The most important relationship that you will ever have in your lifetime is the one that you have with yourself.
We all have so many relationships in our lifetimes; some of them intimate, some fleeting, others from a distance and then there are others that will define and shape the person that we become. But we rarely, if ever, consider the relationship that we have with ourselves.
In previous posts I have talked a lot about ways that you can improve your relationship with yourself. From the importance of positive self talk and letting go of things that no longer serve you, to protecting your energy, raising your standards and even shifting your mindset, I've pretty much covered all of the bases.
However, there is one thing that I have not yet discussed that I have discovered about successful people. They all have one really important thing in common. They all make the most of their mornings and have strict mindful morning routines with themselves to ensure that they start everyday at their absolute best. From entrepreneurs, performers and celebrities to religious figure heads and leaders across the globe; it's unanimous that a mindful morning routine is one of the most important and simple things to have in your self care toolkit.
There is really nothing quite as powerful as the beginning of a new day to reboot our minds and give us a fresh outlook on the day ahead. And best of all, you don't even have to be rising with the morning sun to get the best kick start to your day. Having a mindful morning routine can be as simple as getting up 30 minutes earlier to practise a little self care.
Why not give it a try for yourself. Here is a five step process that could help you to incorporate a little more mindfulness into your day, everyday.
1. Make sure you get enough sleep.
You can't really expect to be all peppy and mindful in the morning if you're not getting a good night's sleep. Make sure that you get an adequate amount of rest each evening and set up a good sleep routine. Check out my blog post on the science of sleep and creating a good sleep routine if you need some help with this. www.spicywatch.com/blog/the-science-of-sleep
2. Train yourself to get up earlier.
Sounds obvious enough, until the alarm goes off and you reach for the snooze button. Try to increase the time that you rise by 10-15 mins each week until you reach the desired amount of extra morning time that you require to practise some uninterrupted mindfulness.
3. Decide on what you're going to put into your mindful mornings.
It could be meditation, gratitude journaling, yoga, a mindful tea drinking ritual, mindful walking or being creative with art supplies. It's really up to you to find the thing that will guide you happily into your day and set you up for a terrific start.
4. The Act of Mindfulness.
Now that you have a plan, you have to put it into practise - mindfully. This is where the real work begins because you may struggle with being mindful a little at first. Being mindful means that for at least 30 minutes you will immerse yourself into your chosen activity completely and uninterruptedly. You will not go off to do other things, you will not turn on any devices and check emails or apps, you will not quit and when your mind wanders off to your 'to do' list for the day, you will need to purposefully and intentionally pull it back to you and your chosen activity.
5. Go slowly and appreciate the silence.
Don't rush, it is first thing in the morning after all! You can't hurry love and you also can't rush a good mindful morning routine. It takes time to establish but it is worth the effort. Try to be gentle with yourself and the process. Take in the quiet and appreciate how good it feels to be alive. Here's a great mindful mantra to say to yourself upon rising:
As I open my eyes,
I awaken to the beauty and freshness of this moment,
A whole new 24 hours has been given to me,
I will live it mindfully,
Appreciating deeply every moment of it.
2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY
Release Date: 1968
Rating: M
Running Time: 161 mins
Nearly 50 years old and still as fresh as the day that it was released, 2001: A Space Odyssey has most definitely stood the test of time and continues to be a quintessential example of amazing science fiction filmmaking. Stanley Kubrick's meditative glimpse into the future rings eerily true in so many ways and was considered to be the most scientifically accurate depiction of actual space flight for many years.
A mysterious black structure connects the past with the future, man colonises the moon and astronauts are sent on a top secret mission to Jupiter, where their highly intelligent computer H.A.L. 9000 experiences a malfunction.
Written by Stanley Kubrick and Arthur C. Clarke, and partially inspired by Clarke's short story "The Sentinel," the film deals with themes of existentialism, evolution, technology, artificial intelligence and extraterrestrial life making it both complex and mesmerising all at once. Reviews were polarised upon it's release because of complexity, but it soon gained a cult following and eventually became the highest grossing North American film in 1968. Today, 2001: A Space Odyssey is widely regarded as one of the greatest and most influential films ever made.
FINAL SAY: I'm sorry Dave, I'm afraid I can't do that.
4.5 Chilli Peppers
Release Date: 1968
Rating: M
Running Time: 161 mins
Nearly 50 years old and still as fresh as the day that it was released, 2001: A Space Odyssey has most definitely stood the test of time and continues to be a quintessential example of amazing science fiction filmmaking. Stanley Kubrick's meditative glimpse into the future rings eerily true in so many ways and was considered to be the most scientifically accurate depiction of actual space flight for many years.
A mysterious black structure connects the past with the future, man colonises the moon and astronauts are sent on a top secret mission to Jupiter, where their highly intelligent computer H.A.L. 9000 experiences a malfunction.
Written by Stanley Kubrick and Arthur C. Clarke, and partially inspired by Clarke's short story "The Sentinel," the film deals with themes of existentialism, evolution, technology, artificial intelligence and extraterrestrial life making it both complex and mesmerising all at once. Reviews were polarised upon it's release because of complexity, but it soon gained a cult following and eventually became the highest grossing North American film in 1968. Today, 2001: A Space Odyssey is widely regarded as one of the greatest and most influential films ever made.
FINAL SAY: I'm sorry Dave, I'm afraid I can't do that.
4.5 Chilli Peppers
RSS Feed