Let me let you in on a little secret on how I try to start my day every day.
A little of my spiritual practice.
First, I make a good cup of coffee.
Then I get comfortable in my favorite sitting spot, turn on the lamp, and read some contemplative writing. Like Sage Warrior. Or any of the other books I share with you on a weekly basis.
Then, I write in my journal… quotes from the book I’m reading, maybe a powerful dream I had, and some of my own thoughts and reflections.
Then, I do breathing exercises, Wim Hof method.
Then, I do stretches. At the end of about 10 minutes of stretching, I stand facing the sunrise and put my hands together in front of my face.
Then I take in a deep breath of “Joy”, and exhale a deep breath of “Love”.
Joy in.
Love out.
Then I go for a run or ruck.
When I get back home, I shower, make a second cup of coffee, and then get to work on a cartoon.
That’s my morning ritual when everything’s running smoothly.
The part I really wanted to share was the joy in love out part.
Joy in. Like everyone I know, I struggle too. I feel like I need to be intentional about being joyful. I need to mean it. Do it on purpose. If I just fly by the seat of my pants, the gravitational pull of life might drag me into sadness, and sometimes it wins. Especially if I let it. I deeply believe I have a lot to be thankful and joyful for, and I need to remember this and practice it. I want to be carefree and lighthearted, and so I intend this every single day.
It’s the same with love out. I do not want to give a knee-jerk reaction to what’s happening around me. I get a lot of nastiness sent my way every day. And if I let it, it will all get to me. I can feel resentment and bitterness rise in my heart. I feel like I need to be intentional about loving and giving loving responses to what comes at me every day. Love people! I say to myself. Help people! I say to myself. Every day. Otherwise I might forget and let the gravity of hatred win, and I don’t want that. I resist that by starting out my day with love out. Always love out.
Do you have a practice that helps you stay grounded, centred, and present?
This is mine.
