In all seriousness, I just woke-up! If you had told me I could wake-up smiling 10 years ago, I would have probably slapped you. Maybe more of a disdainful glare over my coffee but it would have felt like a slap.
Ever wake-up angry?
I used to wake-up angry every day.
Embodying all the cliches.
Until I found the cure!!! **
It all really started when I didn’t even want to get out of bed anymore.
Not a good sign.
Which probably developed from one too many days getting up on the wrong side of the bed.
Being a, “don’t talk to me before I’ve had my coffee” person turned into more of an overall, don’t talk to me, lifestyle.
Until I ended up not liking myself most of the time. Which probably happened after one too many days being shitty to people I love. Really sets a crap-o-rific tone for the day and for a life.
This is where not getting the day off on the right foot can really take an overall turn towards a lifestyle filled with bad days so I went on a search for the easiest ways to make my bad days better.
That this daily practice has worked wonders is the whole reason to share it.
It’s a gratitude practice
Inspired by enough practitioners of personal growth and development that I no longer have specific idea whom to give credit to. This is a common occurrence for me as I go from learning ways to shed anger, resentment, fear, loathing, anxiety, depression to practicing my joy, love, happiness, inspiration, and excitement on a daily basis. ***Actual credit to a few of the people that have recommended this practice or something similar provided at the end of this story.
I will say, for myself, it took re-learning it again, and again over 20 years to put daily gratitude into real practice.
Everyday I get out of bed happier now, open to the day, ready for anything(but positive and ready, instead of an asshole and not so ready).
After I first feel myself come alive for the day, the very first thing I think about is what I’m grateful for.
Taking just a few extra moments in bed to enjoy a few clearing breaths for the day.
Stretching out fully, the sensation of aliveness beginning to course through my body.
I think of other things I’m grateful for as I breath deeply from my belly and exhale the nights sleep fully.
Maybe a sip of water or a big gulp of it if you live in the desert like me.
My bed. My wonderful bed. Thank you for supporting me through sleep. My pillow, cradling my head. Thank you.
The cool darkness of my room or the bright light peeking through the windows.
My utter disbelief that these words are written by me. That I am sharing them now is shocking to say the least.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
It started with trying a few things I’m grateful for and now I just let my gratitude flow until I get a message from the day that I want to get out of bed to greet. My favorite is the sparking of a bright idea charging me up and out of bed to get a jumpstart on. Something new I want to bring to my life, job, or family gets me pumped to jump out of bed too.
I often smile and sometimes even shed a tear or two at the things I am grateful for.
Now I get out of bed happier and more prepared to interact with the people I live with, the most important people to me, the ones I love the most, and want to be my best for.
I’m grateful to live with people I love and I have already learned the hard way that being grumpy towards them is not how I want to be.
This simple, relaxing, comforting, invigorating, and loving technique has totally helped change my drag myself out of bed grumpy to feeling better about myself as I enter into a brand new day.
Here’s the simplest of steps to try:
The moment you wake-up think of one thing you’re grateful for.
Take a deep breath in and a full breath out, grateful for the breath you are taking.
Think of another thing you are grateful for.
Take another deep belly breath into a big stretch down to your toes, out to your fingertips, to the top of your head, gratefully feeling your body come alive for a brand new day.
Think of another thing you're grateful for in the stillness before the day starts.
Take another deep breath in and with your next exhale rise with grace to meet the day.
I encourage you to try it for 62 days but maybe start with 1 week. I get the 62 days, most recently, from Caroline Leaf. Her estimate on the time it takes to create a new habit.
Now, after a few months, I’m really quite amazed with the benefits.
Give it a try and please let me and others know how it worked for you.
Cheers!
** I didn’t find the cure, just something that has been working for me with delightful results for a spell. Give it a try. If it works for you too - yay! I’d love to hear back if it does or even if it doesn’t and you tried something else that works for you. Actually, if it didn’t work I want to hear from you more.
*** Authors I’ve read recommending gratitude as a practice; Brené Brown, Julie Cameron, Susan David, Gay Hendricks, and Greg McKeown, Caroline Leaf --- If anyone has additional names to add please share them in the comments. Thank you!