|
Author: Betty Mahalik Article source: http://www.dynamic-coaching.com/. Used with author's permission.
There is a direct correlation between the speed of your early morning hours and the speed of the rest of your day. I noticed this connection some 10 years ago when I started working with my first coach. She asked me how I spent my early mornings and if I had a morning ritual that I enjoyed. I confessed that I usually hit the ground running, grabbing a cup of coffee and heading into my home office to launch into whatever hit me first. The only ritual was seeing how fast I could get moving before my then very small son woke up and needed my attention.
When she advised that I create a morning ritual that sustained rather than drained me, I eagerly took on the challenge. From that point forward I completely reinvented my morning routine. While I still had the coffee, I spent the first 45 minutes or so relaxing, reading inspirational or instructional material. I meditated. I walked. And I didn't even move toward my office until 8:30 or so. The changes that began to unfold in my life were amazing. And to this day, I honor those early morning minutes as among the most precious of the day.
I share this story with you because often, when I am coaching someone, or meet someone at a presentation or speech, they tell me how crazy their life is. They, like I used to, hit the ground running, filling their early morning hours with caffeine, bad news reports, and racing like mad to get wherever it is they need to go, or racing their children wherever it is they need to go. Maybe you can relate.
If you want to transform your harried life, I recommend that you start by transforming the first hour of your day. Create a morning ritual that soothes rather than stimulates, sustains rather than drains. Spend some time waking up your body with a few gentle stretches. Allow your mind to rest on thoughts of peace, inspiration or timeless wisdom rather than a repeat of the daily doom and gloom reports. Plan your next day's wardrobe the night before so you're not rushing to do a load of laundry or ironing in the mornings. And teach your family to respect and honor your quiet time.
There's a saying in leadership that "the speed of the leader is the speed of the gang." The corollary in terms of lifestyle is: "the speed of the morning is the speed of the day." Experiment this week with altering your morning routine. Even if you can only spend 15 minutes in quiet before the day begins, watch how the seed of peace takes root in the rest of your day. Mentally return to those few peaceful moments when you feel rushed or hurried during the day and that peace will again permeate your mind and spirit.
Gandhi said it well when he commented: "There has to be more to life than increasing its speed."
***********************
Quote of the Week
***********************
"For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven." ~~Ecclesiastes 3:1 Betty Mahalik has been coaching small business owners, independent professionals and leaders who want to achieve more but stress less, since 1996. Her background includes several years in the broadcasting and public relations fields prior to starting her own firm in 1987. She is an accomplished public speaker and corporate trainer specializing in communications, goal-setting and leveraging your strengths. Since 2001, she has written a weekly motivational message, free to subscribers, titled Monday Morning Coach.
Dont Make the Top 30 SEO Mistake
So you have numerous keyword phrases that appear in the top 30 of search engine results? Congrats! But getting to the top 30 is only half the battle. Research s...
How to Finance a Small Business
Confused by how to finance a small business? One key to a successful business start-up and expansion is your ability to obtain and secure appropriate financing.
Ezines, Ezines Everywhere!
There are literally thousands of ezines being published online these days. Sometimes it is hard to know which ones are best for advertising in, reading, subscr...
The Dharma Of Sound Healing
Music has always been recognized as having a powerful effect on human consciousness. But in the past few years, there has been more research into the science of...
Three Building Blocks of Leadership
It's not enough to declare that your selected candidate for promotion to supervisor is now a "leader." You must provide him or her with three essential building...
Drugs and Violence In Public Schools
Many public-school children have to put up with bullies, violence, peer-pressure, and drug-dealers. Is this the kind of "socialization" you want for your childr...
Why Do I Struggle With Cellulite?
Even the most beautiful women in Hollywood struggle with cellulite, no matter how strictly they diet or how thin they are. Maybe you've heard that dieting won'...
Buying a Flagpole
The most expensive flagpoles cost hundreds of thousands of dollars, as in the case of some of the more monumental poles. At the high end of the usual spectrum, ...
Debunking the Myth of Spot Reduction
Many people seeking weight loss and perfect bodies believe you can target certain areas with exercise. Are you in search of the perfect arms or simply want to ...
Puppy Training that is Safe for Your Puppy
Puppies go through very critical imprinting stages during their first year of life which most often determine what kind of pet they will become. This is why it'...
Communication in Relationships
Bad communication in a relationship is one of the main reasons for love and marriage problems. A listening attitude with focus on eye contact is essential when ...
Web Marketing: Design Mistakes That Drive Customers Away In Droves
Your web site may look cool. But if you have these design elements, you are losing customers.
How to Transform a Boring Note Into A Killer Cover Letter - Part II
Direct response marketing principles have been used for over 100 years to sell products to consumers. This article shows you how to take those same principle a...
Home And Garden Decorating
These days the market is flooded with products for the home and garden as well as a wealth of advice and information about decorating. This information can be f...
What is Commitment?
When I married my wife I committed myself to her welfare, both physically and emotionally. She put her trust in me to provide for not only her but for our child...
3 Simple Ways to Generate Cash Flow
This article focuses on generating cash as a full time job or "on the side" to support your business. These are three easy methods that will help you grow your...
If You Want to Work from Home
Here are some important points to take note of if you want to work from home. working from home is a dream occupation for many people, but only a few of us will...
Successful Pay Per Click Ad Copy
Writing outstanding ad copy for pay-per-click advertising campaigns is critical if a webmaster wants to be successful. Why waste money on clicks from people who...
Im Not Fat, Im Fluffy
The problems posed by discrepancies between our actual image and the image we hold in our minds is explored inthe context of weight control, appearance, and sel...
How I Got Hundreds Of Links To My Website
Discover how to increase search engine ranking of your website by using a little-known method to get hundreds of links pointing to your website at no cost.
Working With Drop Shippers
Establishing a business relationship with a drop shipper for ecommerce can be a complicated process. Read this article to discover how to select a reliable drop...
Starting a Stamp Collection
How to start a stamp collection
Fatigue After WLS: Iron Deficiency May Be the Cause
Gastric bypass patients are at risk of iron deficiency because iron found in meat, poultry and fish is normally absorbed by the duodenum and small intestines. T...
How to Prequalify a Buyer When You Sell Your Home By Owner
One questions many "for sale by owner" sellers ask is "how can I determine if a potential buyer can afford to buy my house?" In the real estate industry this is...
|
Print this page