Rise and Shine! The Day is Ready, Are You?

Posted bylifecoachtracyPosted inAnxiety, Coaching, Life coaching, Meditation, Mental HealthTags:, , , , , ,

Have you ever opened your eyes in the morning, and panic feels like it was waiting for you? Perhaps you have woken up from a terrible dream, and you just can’t shake that ick feeling you have. A number of my clients suffer from this. I like to call it the “Morning Terrors”. It can feel defeating, especially if you wake up feeling this way, and you aren’t able to put the finger on what the issue is. When someone comes to me with this issue, the first thing I ask is, “What action do you take when you open your eyes in the morning”? The second question I ask is, “What is your morning routine?”

Most people get up, use the bathroom, make some coffee, shower, and get ready for the day. It is easy to start the day on autopilot. It allows someone to numb out, focus on the task at hand, and in some cases, just get physically ready for the day. The issue with falling into autopilot or pushing through your morning terrors is it can stay with you and have a profound effect on your day. Giving yourself five minutes in the morning to clear your mind and focus your thoughts can change your life.

I have various rituals, I rotate in and out of when I wake up in the morning. Having several practices allows me to exercise a little flexibility. I find when I am flexible with my morning meditations, they tend to evolve into something unexpected and unusual. I am learning to let go of the idea that meditation needs to look a certain way, last a certain amount of time, or come from some wise and spiritual being. Long story short, your morning meditation, or routine really can be anything you like. In fact, you can craft your very own.

I recently started using a new meditation in the morning. It takes less than five minutes, and it has transformed my days. The idea for this meditation came from a post I found on Instagram over the Summer. The quote really spoke to me, so I decided to save it in my Instagram bookmarks. I have integrated into my morning, and I am loving it. When I turn off my alarm on my phone in the morning, the next thing I do is open my notes. The quote asks 5 questions:

  1. One thing you’re looking forward to today?
    I really think about this, allowing my mind to wander and think BIG!! If you are struggling to find ONE thing, start small. Something as little as the sun or wind on your face, brushing your teeth, or perhaps the single victory of getting out of bed.
  2. Five people in your life you are thankful for?
    My list usually has the same five people. The reason I like this one is, it allows me to put these people at the forefront of my mind. I start the day thinking of these people and the love I feel. If you don’t have five people, start with one. The number of people isn’t significant. The action of positive thinking towards others is where the magic begins.
  3. One accomplishment you are proud of from yesterday?
    I can be my worst critic and my biggest enemy. If a friend talked to me the same way I’ve talked to myself, we wouldn’t be friends. Learning to notice and celebrate the things I’ve done well when I wake up in the morning has given me motivation. I take that feeling of accomplishment with me all day long. I haven’t been exercising regularly. Yesterday, I was proud of getting up and walking a few miles in the morning.
  4. One thing you like about the way you look?
    I started with the shape of my eyes. I spent a little extra time on this one. I spent time thinking about why I like this feature. I thought of all the things I have seen in my life. The laugh lines starting to form around my eyes, showing the happiness I have created in my life.
  5. Your intention for the day?
    This one has been fun! I have been personally going through a great deal of change in my life. Waking up a bit nervous and feeling frazzled. Setting a primary intention gives me something to come back to all day long. If I feel like I am getting tense or too frantic, I can go back to the intention I set in the morning. This morning, I set the intention to learn.

Last but not least, take 5 deep breaths. Have a full and beautiful week!

Published by lifecoachtracy

Tracy Howell is a personal mental health life coach and therapeutic companion specializing in trauma recovery and addiction. She focuses on facilitating an ongoing partnership designed to help clients move toward greater self-awareness that will allow them to produce purposeful and fulfilling results in their lives. Tracy’s education and background are in design, theater, and addiction recovery. Over twenty years, Tracy developed and maintained her own small business in furniture and design. While Tracy had a successful career, her passion for mentoring and service was always apart of her life. After seeing a great need for her services, in the last few years, Tracy has made the transition to a full-time coach and companion. Her experiences in recovery, as well as professionally, bring several specific strengths to her work as a life coach. These include her ability to listen, communicate effectively, demonstrate compassion, set goals, and provide motivation as well as positive feedback.