When we wake up in the morning, the prefrontal cortex or the part of the brain that has some rational and logical thinking skills, plus much of our verbal abilities, is often foggy or still somewhat asleep. What this often causes for many of us who function in a pretty anxious or stressed state of being 24/7, is that we wake with our survival brain in worry mode. We wake with our too full schedule in mind, worrying about how we can make it through the day. We wake with the anxiety-causing conversation/client/meeting/event in mind, on our way to a panic attack or shutting down and tuning out our emotions just to survive the day. Or, we simply wake up dreading the day, wishing we could stay in bed a little longer or alot longer!
I have spoken about starting the day with an intention before and this is taking that deeper, to a more holistic level. I say holistic, because it is focused on mind, body, and spirit. First, the body. When you wake in the morning, do a body scan immediately. Start at the toes and go up checking in with each area. If there is tension, say something relaxing, breathe a long slow relaxing breath and let go of the tension. If there is discomfort, do the same. Sometimes there is discomfort that won't go away just with a breath and a thought. In this case, tell yourself not to linger there, not to let that discomfort or pain ruin the morning or the day. Continue until you have gotten to the top of the head - this could take 5 minutes or 15 minutes, you decide.
Next, the mind. Notice where your mind was when you woke. Maybe after the relaxation exercise, you no longer remember - great! However, if you do remember and the mindset was a negative one, then say to yourself, "I release that thought." This morning, I woke with fear and anxiety about a bomb dropping and getting my family and a slew of children that came from who knows where into the basement and all that this terrifying event entailed. I could have carried that emotion with me into the rest of my day, even after forgetting the dream, instead I released it. It is especially effective to say the release statement out loud if you are able. Then, with your brain still a bit fuzzy and pliable, choose a statement or an intention to think for the day, a mantra for the day, if you want to call it that. Make it something your brain will buy into. For example, if you say, "today I intend to be happy!" and your brain says, "yeah, right." somewhere in the background, then pick something more in the middle ground. Rewiring your brain in a positive direction takes baby steps, not leaps and bounds. Inhale, take in what you need for the mantra or intention, and exhale release what you don't need. For example, I inhale confidence and I exhale fear.
Finally, the spirit. Whatever or whoever you believe in comes in here. If you believe in God, then say a prayer and ask for guidance, angels, guides, whatever, ask for what you need or send out gratitude for what you have. If you believe in energy and the attraction of energy, then start attracting that energy, open your palms and your heart and bring it in! If you believe in a self source, then go deep and find what you need and let that rise up within you, strong and radiating out to the space around you.
Then, when you are ready get yourself up and out of bed. You have taken a step in the right direction to rewire your brain and your nervous system, to connect to a source of peace and joy. Done daily for a few weeks, this is guaranteed to change your outlook on life and with a new outlook will change your life as well!
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