Have you noticed what a GREAT day today is? (…And if that question just made you feel cynical and say, “Yeah, right!” – then definitely keep reading!)
If you are utterly convinced that life – and bad days – are all something that happens to you, and especially if you have lots of evidence proving that it’s all beyond your control, let’s just back up a few hours and take a look at how true that actually is…
Naturally, I’m going to ask you to start with a bit of self-inquiry:
- How do you feel when you wake up each morning?
- How do you start your day mentally and emotionally?
- Do you feel open, hopeful and curious about what the new day will bring?
Or…
- Are you already thinking, before you even open your eyes, about all the problems and obligations hanging over you?
- Before your feet even hit the floor, are you feeling fear or anxiety about the future, and/or regrets about the past?
- Do you relate to each morning as the beginning of “just another difficult day” that you have to get through somehow without falling apart?
Don’t get me wrong – I know and understand that in life our brains will at times be filled with stresses, fears, uncertainties, and many other kinds of “negative” thoughts and feelings.
But what you need to know is that entertaining these thoughts for more than the few seconds it takes to notice they are there can actively undermine your overall sense of well-being, by setting you up for staying stuck all day in needless anxiety or negativity.
And of course, everything that happens while you’re stuck there will come in through that filter of “…ok, so what’s bad about THIS, so I can re-confirm how bad my day is?”
Don’t do that to yourself!!
As an alternative, today I’m giving you a 5-step process for banishing those thoughts that would steer you into a “bad” day and put you on course instead for a better one – maybe even a GREAT one. You may be amazed at the ease with which you focus on joy, pleasure and any other positive thoughts and experiences!
5 Simple Steps for Making Every Day a Good One
- Before even getting out of bed, I stretch, breathe and say out loud: “Today is a brand new day. All good things are possible. I am open to seeing, hearing and receiving the blessings in my life.”
This is about all good things: health, love, respect, abundance, understanding, compassion, etc. Look for all the blessings in your life, and just as you have found the problems, so too will you find yourself able to recognize the blessings.. You only have to look, and be open to experiencing them! - As I am about to start each activity, I STOP! BREATHE! & FOCUS! My intention is to be fully present in this moment and in this activity.
Rather than waiting until the end of the day to reflect back, stop throughout your day and honor each moment. You’ll find that you’ll be more in tune with all the good that is in your day and these moments will have more power and influence. You might even find that just by being present you’ll experience the pleasure of being productive, compassionate, understanding, aware, feeling connected to friends, family, co-workers, etc. and these are all emotional and mental highs in your day! - I consciously create an environment that reflects my positive thoughts and feelings about myself.
Look around your home and work space, and see what needs to be modified so that you create a space that is truly loving and respectful of you. What it takes to accomplish that may be surprisingly simple, like adding a picture, clearing clutter, lighting a candle, etc. Or it may be more involved, like changing the color of your walls, or putting in new lighting, etc. Embrace the process of change as a gift to yourself! - I keep a solemn promise to myself: “No complaining, just problem solving!”
Rather than complaining about something in your life that’s bothersome to you, think about what it is you need or want that’s different from that. Brainstorm ideas for how you achieve that change. Do NOT stay mired in the problem! Instead, keep working toward the solution in each moment that you are thinking about it. - Life is about attitude, so I choose to have a good one!
You will always have a better day when you consistently honor and respect the power that simply managing your attitude gives you. Think about the people you most enjoy being with. Are they whiners and complainers? Or people who generally have a good outlook on life? Who do you want to be? It really makes a difference!
If you’ve had some “bad” days, just remember that each today can be different, and all it takes is awareness of your thoughts and attitude. Take that deep breath when you hear yourself mired in negative thoughts. Then whatever the subject matter is, choose a new attitude and belief and start that thought process over. Yes, it takes 28 days to make a habit, but think about all the opportunities in each day to practice new thoughts, intentions, and attitudes.
And of course, you can use these steps at any time of day – not just in the morning before you get out of bed! In fact, the more often you do them, the more choosing to be positive will become an automatic habit.
So make these five steps a regular part of your day, and get ready to enjoy a consistent succession of better days! Need additional guidance, support and encouragement? Click here to access the Caregivers’ Step By Step Guide to further empower your journey of taking as good care of yourself as you do of others in your life.
And we breathe…
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