In a recent article I learned the secret of how 10 of the most successful people begin each day to ensure success. Want to know?
Successful people always seem to have a daily morning routine to set themselves up for a productive day.
Let’s look at two very successful people and learn from them:
Adam Grant, author of, Give and Take begins his day building relationships by helping his cohorts. First thing each morning, he either by helps them solve their problems or introduces two of his contacts to each other. Adam Grant looks outward helping and building community. Adam Grant believes what you put out, you get in return.
Famous life and motivational coach, Tony Robbins takes a more holistic approach, practicing gratitude and visualization. At day’s start, Tony Robbins spends 15 minutes a day being grateful for what he has. This gratitude helps him identify what he wants out of life. When he understands and sees what exactly he wants from life, he builds a vision. He commits with determination and certainty being led by his goal.
“Take thoughts and turn them into actions, turn them into results, turn your dreams into reality.” —Tony Robbins
I think the same principle of starting your day in the right direction applies to happiness. A rehearsed, ingrained pattern launching you to a day filled with joy is the best way to kickoff any day.
So how do we build a routine of happiness each day? Here’s what has worked for me:
Sister Mary Vodka starts in bed, before my feet even hit the ground. I connect with Creator setting the day up with gratitude and awe with this short prayer:
“This is the day that the Lord has made, let us be glad and rejoice and give thanks”.
Following the expression of gratitude, I want to set my mind in an “open and accepting” frame, releasing any expectations for the day:
“What grand and glorious adventure do you have planned for me today?”
Once I begin my workday, I head straight to my gratitude jar on my desk. Sitting down at computer I reach for my sticky notes to write down the three things that I am grateful for the day before.
I’ve been working with the gratitude jar since the beginning of the year and found that it really does build happiness. If you missed the “gratitude jar”, here’s a brief explanation:
The grateful jar consists of a large jar (I used a tall iris flower vase with a beautiful black and white bow.) Each morning I take 3 small pieces of paper (I use sticky notes) jotting down one thing that I am grateful for from the previous day.
My sticky notes document the daily blessings that I’m certainly aware of, but have gone unnoticed in my hurriedness. I fill my vase with wonderful memories that I would like to remember, funny moments that made me laugh, beauty in nature that I notice on my walks, maybe an accomplishment, a small success, a note from a friend, or a treasured surprise.
Now, granted I’ve only been at this since January but I’ve found amazing results.
First of all, I find myself looking for things to be grateful for during the day. This puts me in a positive frame of mind looking for the “good”, building positivity.
Secondly, when I put my head on my pillow at night I reflect on the day pondering on what 3 blessings I will write down the next morning. I fall asleep while my subconscious is focused on all the wonderful things that have filled my last 24 hours.
Lastly, my tall vase sitting on my desk is a constant visual reminder of the abundance in which I live. I look at all those little sticky notes and pray, “Thanks, Lord, for the last 24 blessed hours.”
Let’s ensure our happiness by integrating a routine setting us up for success and happiness throughout the day through “early morning prayers” and the gratitude jar.
