Morning rituals: the (other) M&M

A client of mine remarked how calm, peaceful and balanced I was (her words, not mine) and asked what my morning ritual was. It’s true, I am quite level-headed by nature (this may be genetics at work or a complete fluke – I’m not sure). But I do work at it because my morning rituals really help to maintain balance and prepare me for the day ahead.

Are we connected? Or just distracted?

I really feel for anyone who suffers mood swings, furious arguments and all the rest of it. It’s a huge subject, and who am I to offer an expert opinion? But here’s the thing: I believe that some of the technology we take for granted these days compounds the issue – we are more ‘connected’ than ever, but not to ourselves!

When we awake (still drowsy in our bed), the temptation is to pick up the phone and begin responding to notifications, twitter feeds, Facebook posts, marketing links etc. on and on. Send! Done! Next! And some of it is important, but an awful lot of it can wait. My question is this: should we just accept this as the new normal, or press the mental ‘pause’ button and try something different?

Here’s my M&Ms (minutes spend before I reach for the phone)

MINDFULNESS: Wow! I have awakened (once again) and all lays before me. What has gone before is gone and what lays ahead is yet another opportunity to spend time doing the same things… or begin again. I cannot begin to express to you how grateful I am for this.

MEDITATION: in natural progression, quiet reflection and connection – not to anything that calls me to action but in recognition of my inner self and the ‘space’ to be who I am, before yesterday, before anything. Meditation is a gift and it may bring you to tears. But it is you, released.

MOTIVATION: a natural offshoot of meditation… the willingness to go forward, move past yesterday, be who you are without the ‘baggage’; and gift today with something new.

MOVEMENT: in bed still – gently stretch, move, and loosen your limbs. Most of us hold accumulated tensions in our bodies as well as our minds. Yesterday informs today but it doesn’t have to. Stretch, and let it go.

Rise now… you are equipped to handle whatever today brings.