Habits
According to the Meriam Webster Dictionary, a habit is a usual way of behaving: something that a person does often in a regular and repeated way.
I woke up this morning and started my day the following way:
I woke up and smiled.
I thanked the Universe for letting me show up for another day.
I stretched as they do in commercials, raising my arms in a V for victory. It’s one of the most basic stretches, and I don’t even have to leave my bed to do it!
I walked over to another room, where I keep my cell phone at night, picked it up, and sat down to do my morning meditation. I use the Headspace App.
I prepared my morning smoothie while I listened (and danced) to today’s first tune: Great Night by NEEDTOBREATHE featuring Shovels & Rope.
These are my morning habits. It’s taken time to get these habits to become routine. It’s taken reflection, trying different practices, and a commitment to working on me. My morning habits seem simple enough. And yes, they are. Simple and positive.
I haven’t always had simple and positive morning habits. I went through the wake-up-and grab a coffee-and-go habit. That was me being young and foolish and married to my job. I went through the ‘f___ my life’ habit. Yes, every morning, I woke up, and those were the first words out of my mouth. Not the ideal morning mantra. I went through the grey morning habit. Every morning, I woke up to grey. My mind couldn’t process a single thought. All I could see was grey. This was depression. I had some drive with the first two habits; with the grey habit, I had nothing.
These morning habits were not an ideal way to start my day. They were my reminder that from the moment I opened my eyes, I felt powerless. I carried that powerlessness with me throughout the day, for many, many days. And most of those days were tough.
How did I transition from negative morning habits to positive morning habits?
At first, I began exploring different routines, hoping I would find one that would stick. While it was helpful and gave me the chance to explore a variety of habits, I still felt like I was coming up empty. Something was missing.
The a-ha! Moment
The transition from negative morning habits to positive morning habits happened when I realized my habits needed to align with my goals. And my habits and goals had to be in alignment with my values. This was my a-ha! moment.
Many of my previous habits were not a reflection of my values or goals. I was living somewhat of a lie, some made-up version of me that didn’t feel right, a version that borrowed values from others. I was a people pleaser. I thought others knew better, so I often adopted their values. My goals? Since they were attached to values I borrowed from others; my goals were not mine either. Not a good way to live your life. Not a good way to lead an authentic life.
Today, I’ve got several daily habits that align with my values. Each habit brings me closer to achieving my goals. Each habit is a reflection of my values, of what I define as important in my life. The meditation habit: that’s my health and wellness value. The thanking the Universe habit: that’s my gratitude value. The morning music habit: that’s my curiosity value.
It’s taken time AND work to get to this point. I am learning who I am, what I want, and how I want to lead my life. I like the habits I’ve created, I’m excited about the goals I’ve made, and I smile when I think about the values that drive how I want to live my life.
What are some of your positive habits? Do they align with your goals and values?
