The morning is extremely important. It is the
foundation from which the day is built. How you choose to spend your
morning can be used to predict what kind of day you’re going to have.
Do you need help focusing on what matters most? If you think happiness and success means making lots of money and buying lots of stuff, the answer to this question is yes. Dirty, wrinkled sketches of dead presidents have never made anyone
happy in the long run. And how can you expect to be successful if
you’re not happy? Money helps along the way, but only you can make
yourself happy and successful from the inside out. There isn’t any
amount of money that can buy that. Real happiness and success comes from the quality of your attitude,
your relationships, and the emotions you experience each day. That’s
where the questions below come in. Ask yourself these questions every
morning and I absolutely guarantee that your days will get happier and
more prolific over time:
1. What is the most important thing I can do today for my own well-being?
If you don’t take good care of yourself, then you can’t take good
care of others either; which is why taking care of yourself is the best
selfish thing you can do.
Every new day is a chance to change your life. Work on making life
all that you want it to be. Work hard for what you believe, and keep
your dreams big and your worries small. Figure out how you can best
serve yourself today. Remember, you never need to carry more than you can hold, just take
one small step at a time. And while you’re out there today making
decisions instead of excuses, learning new things, and getting closer
and closer to your goals, know that there are others out there, like me,
who admire your efforts and are striving for greatness too.
2. How can I show my love to those I love?
You don’t need to be perfect to be a perfect friend or lover, but the commitment
to your relationship is a precious responsibility. Relationships last a
lifetime only when two people make a deliberate choice to keep it,
fight for it, and work for it. These acts of love don’t need to be
extravagant either; they just need to be true. And true love is always
shown in deeds, not just words. Also, remember that it’s not so much about what you do for your loved
ones as it is about the love you put into what you do for them. Learn
what matters most to them and make a habit of it.
3. How can I encourage myself and others today?
“People often say that motivation doesn’t last. Well, neither does
bathing, that’s why we recommend it daily.” Zig Ziglar said that, and
nothing could be closer to the truth.
To accomplish great things, you must not only act, but also dream,
not only plan, but also believe. Be a dreamer, a believer, and a
courageous and cheerful thinker. Be a positive motivator, a productive
doer, and a go-getter who keeps her head in the clouds and her feet on
the ground. Let the spirit of passion and possibility ignite a fire
within you to do something worthwhile today, and don’t forget to spread your enthusiasm to those around you.
4. What can I do to make a positive difference in the lives around me?
Being a genuinely good person, helping others, and leaving the world
better than you found it is what a truly rich life is. Knowing deep
down that you counted – that someone else’s life would not have been as
well off without you in it – that’s priceless. That’s something worth
working for.
There are many small, simple actions you can make to profoundly
impact your family, your community, and the world. So do your best to
leave everything you touch today a little better than you found it.
5. How will I sincerely honor my own truth today?
You have your own way. For you, this way of living is the absolute right way. Honor it.
One of the most influential sources of peace is simply being
comfortable with who you really are. Not trading your reality for a
role, or your truth for an act. Not giving up your freedom of thought.
Not putting on a mask. There cannot be peace in your external life until you are at peace
within yourself, being yourself. It won’t always be easy, but no price
is too high to pay for the privilege of owning your inner spirit.
6. What is my intuition telling me about my current path?
Is it telling you to go against the grain? Is it urging you to do
something differently? It’s okay to listen to the advice of others, but
don’t forget to check in with your own intuition. If it leads you off
the well worn path today, so be it. Don’t apologize for what you feel and what you don’t feel; that’s a betrayal of your truth.
No matter how much advice people give you, sometimes you have to feel
things out for yourself, make decisions on your own, experience things
firsthand, and build your own conclusions from the ground up the old
fashion way.
7. What do I appreciate about my life right now?
As Socrates once said, “Contentment is natural wealth, luxury is artificial poverty.”
Do not waste all your happiness by overlooking everything you have
for everything you wish you had. If you do, you will never have
enough. Instead, appreciate the goodness that is already yours, and you
will instantly find a lot more to smile about. Appreciate the good people and things around you, and you’ll soon
find many more of them around you. Truly appreciate your life, and
you’ll find that you have more of it to live.
8. What would I like to remember about today?
Do something worth remembering. Try something new. Express your
love. Live your truth. Share your enthusiasm. Take action towards
meaningful goals. Walk your talk. Embrace your gifts. Bounce to the
beat of your own drum. Do whatever it takes to make today a good memory.
Afterthoughts
Remember, asking the right questions is the answer, because the
questions you ask yourself on a daily basis determine your focus, and
your focus determines your end results. So ask yourself the questions
above every morning and watch as the rest of your day falls into place.
