Win the Morning, Win the Day

It is 7 am. The alarm goes off, and I still feel tired. My mind wanders off to issues unsolved, it is foggy in my head. I hit the snooze button, I don't want to get up yet. I roll over, hoping to fall asleep again, but there is an uncomfortable feeling in my body. 9 minutes go by, and I hear the irritating sound of my alarm clock again. With a slap of my hand, I hit the snooze button. I wish I could sleep again, but all those thoughts in my head don't go away. I don't feel the strength to get up. I allow myself another 9 minutes. Bang, I push the button again. Slowly, I get out of bed feeling grumpy, hoping my kids will be asleep for a little while so that I can wake up. I drag myself to the kitchen to make a cup of coffee. It will be alright, I tell myself.

Can you relate to this? Then don't stop reading. I found a way out. I call it My Miracle Morning. I believe having systems in place to live our lives is very important. One of the systems (little habits) that has been life-changing for me is what I call My Miracle Morning. Miracle, because it did wonders to me, plus that hour of the day is miraculous. What hour? For me, just before 6am.

What is Miracle Morning?

I have to tell you a secret, the name The Miracle Morning comes originally from the book by the same name written by Hal Elrod. Hal has taken the 'best practices'—developed over centuries of human consciousness development—and condensed the 'best of the best' into a daily morning ritual. A ritual that is now part of my day and thousands of others.

The Miracle Morning Consists of 6 Steps: S.A.V.E.R.S.

S - Silence (meditation, breathing, prayer, whatever you need to quiet your mind)
A - Affirmations (the juicy stuff that brings you into a good state of mind, the way you want to live your day)
V - Visualization (visualize your day, the way you want to live, the way you do your tasks to accomplish your goals)
E - Exercise (get some blood flowing and air in your lungs by doing yoga, fitness, etc.)
R - Reading (commit to reading 10 pages each morning, and you will read roughly 18 books each year)
S - Scribing (take a few moments to write down your thoughts, insights of this morning or the things you are grateful for)

When I read this book, I could feel it in my bones; I needed morning practice to enhance my life. It took me a while to figure out the best rhythm for myself. I adjusted habits here and there, but now I love it, and I love to share it. It is a 7-step process for me.

My Little Habits

1. My Miracle Morning starts with my first item on my STOP-DOING LIST: saying YES to life by not hitting the snooze button at 5:45 am. Putting it on my stop-doing list made it much easier for me to commit myself to it.
2. In comfortable clothes, enjoying the silence in the house, I make myself a glass of warm lemon water, knowing it aids my digestive system and even 15 more health benefits.
3. I get my yoga mat and decide where to practise. If the weather is nice, I prefer to do it outside. Practising yoga for around 30 minutes while feeling the breeze in your hair and listening to the birds chirping is magical. Inside, I often light a candle and some incense to make it my sacred space. By doing the same practice almost daily, I become conscious of how my body is doing and where it needs attention or support. 
4. The yoga flows into silence, a very logical step. Connecting first with the earth and the universe, I sit in silence for about 15 minutes. Sometimes I put on a guided meditation to help me quiet my mind more easily. 
5. Feeling calm and relaxed, I check in with myself with the help of the 5 min journal app. It is my secret weapon to focus on the good in my life. Practising gratitude shifted my mindset and the way I show up in the world. The more I invite gratefulness into my heart, the more things show up in my life to be grateful for. 
6. I am short on time but big on learning. So the next step for me is reading. It is a huge change, fueled by a small commitment. By reading at least 10 pages every morning, I push my personal growth and keep learning. I see personal development as a way of living, so it is worth the time.
7. We're almost there. The creative me, the writer, is coming out. I commit myself to let the words flow out of me, whatever feels important to put down. It is a process of the heart, and I am amazed at what wants to be expressed. It is a practice, a habit. It opens pathways of awareness, it brings joy. I close my writing by taking control of my day. Fluid my mind with the person I want to be. I look at my weekly goals and what actions I need to attend to. Pull them to TODAY. I write down the three most important ones, so I do not forget them that day. In that way, I keep the main thing, the main thing today. 

My Miracle Morning profoundly improved my quality of life and that of my family. It has built my resilience tremendously. I feel more vital, joyful and fulfilled and allow myself to see the magic of life. I am more connected to the divine energy of love and dedicated to shining my light into the world. Getting up before your kids is incredibly calming and centering, bringing peace and love to the breakfast table.

I don't recommend my ritual, but I recommend finding your ritual, your little habits and developing one that supports the things you love the most. If you win the morning, you will win the day.