Strategies to Stay on Course
by Mary Pawlus
Our habits and rituals make up our life.
Every day we need physical energy, mental clarity, and emotional balance to tackle everything that comes our way. Self-care, i.e. rituals, is one of the secrets to performing at our highest level.
I find that having daily rituals helps me stay on course. These daily rituals help me stay focused and moving forward even in the darkest of times.
In any situation and at any given moment, we have a choice to respond, or to react. We can choose to seek the light and redirect our paths when we find ourselves in darkness. It’s an inside job — choosing how we respond. That’s where rituals can help.
Here are six rituals that I do every day. They help me stay focused on what’s important and help to keep me balanced.
- I drink a glass of water upon awakening (usually lemon water). Why? Because our bodies lose water overnight, so I am dehydrated. Many people don’t drink enough water. You will be surprised at how this helps start your day fresh. I also repeat affirmations upon awakening.
- Gratitude – Every morning I write 10 things that I am grateful for. I then meditate for five minutes, asking for guidance for the day. That is followed by sending love to three people who irritate me (sometimes one of the three is me!). …You will be amazed how great you will feel when you do this exercise. It is a beautiful way to start your day. Also, whenever I am stressed during the day I pull out my gratitude journal and read it. That puts me back on track.
- Reading – Every morning I will read for 15 – 30 minutes. My reading usually consists of something by Wallace Wattles, Napoleon Hill, Dr. Joseph Murphy, or … Bob Proctor. This, combined with #2 above sets the tone for my day. Regardless of what is happening, I do not allow external circumstances to control how I feel. Find something that inspires you and read it daily.
- Exercise – Everyone needs to move their body! It doesn’t have to be hours in the gym. You can dance in your living room, you can walk around the block, you can do whatever you want – just move. Regular movement keeps us healthy and alert. It boosts energy and mood, and relieves stress.
- My Top Six – These have been set the night before, but I review them in the morning. Set Six Goal Achieving Activities that you will complete the next day. Prioritize them, then take action and do them. Some days you may not complete all six, just move the one or two that you didn’t complete over to the next day. Always have six. If you have moved a couple over from the day before then add four, don’t go over six. Aim to complete all of them. This will keep you focused and moving toward your goal. In other words, always take ACTION.
- Reflect – To bring positive closure to the day I reflect for 10 minutes. I ask myself, “What went well?”, “Where can I improve?”. If something happened that was less than great, I look at it as an opportunity to learn, and move on. Finally, I repeat affirmations just before going to bed. This fills my mind with constructive thoughts of harmony, health, peace, joy, and abundance.