The simple act of getting dressed and properly groomed is a formidable task in and of itself (do these socks really go with that belt?). Add to that the mental checklist we must attack with the rising of the sun as we scroll through the demands of the day – the meetings, people, deadlines, and lists – in order to hit the ground running when we enter the office, and the pressure quickly mounts. Am I prepared? Am I forgetting something? Am I going to royally screw up today?
Thus, within moments of rising from your peaceful slumber, the blood pressure surges as you rush out the door whilst girding your loins in anticipation of another showdown with a fully packed work calendar.
This, I have learned, is not the best way to kick off a spirit-filled day.
There are better ways to refresh your spirit in preparation for the demands ahead of you. A well-paced morning routine does wonders in setting the tone for the rest of the day.
“But, J.B, how can you possibly expect me to have a well-paced morning routine?” you ask in frenzied desparation, blood vessels bulging as you wolf down a bagel while tearing out the driveway. How? How? How?!!
Well, dear reader, swallow that mouthful of bagel and lean in a little closer. I will tell you the secret of having an awesome morning routine:
WAKE UP 30 MINUTES EARLIER.
Yup, that’s it. Not necessarily the magical formula you had in mind, but it is the only way to realistically get your spiritual act together before you get your act on the road.
Setting the alarm a few minutes earlier will allow you the luxury of taking twenty minutes for a little quiet meditation to start the day off right – ironically by forgetting about the day entirely, except for you n’ God. A little relaxation and deep breathing, a morsel of scripture, some prayerful reflection, a lite reading from an inspirational book, while soothing Gregorian chants flow forth from your stereo speakers; this, ladies and gentlemen, is how you establish a solid spiritual platform for the day.
I have found those few minutes of quiet solitude in the morning to create a stillpoint, a haven of solitude and strength to set a spiritual baseline that I can carry with me throughout the entire work day.
So, before heading out to work, why not calibrate your spirit?