Being compassionate isn’t something that comes naturally to many. Human nature is designed in such a way that it’s preferable to concentrate on our own personal needs and the priorities we set for ourselves. That means we won’t consider the feelings of others and work to help them unless we make doing so a focal point in our own daily routine. A powerful way of setting intention and providing a mindful roadmap for your day is to engage in some sort of practice that organizes your habits in ways that are productive and that lead to self-growth. That’s where the morning ritual comes in. Continue reading below to discover how creating a morning ritual of gratitude and compassion can make each day better through intentional design.
Make It a Personal Habit
The most important part of any morning ritual is that it reflect your needs as a person. It doesn’t matter how much time you set aside or even the activities you include. What does matter is that these things benefit you and fit seamlessly into your lifestyle. The point of this practice is to center yourself and to create a routine that sets your day up for success. Perhaps the second most crucial component in your ritual is consistency. Habits require daily repetition if they’re to stick.
Focus on Your Whole Self
When deciding what to include in your daily ritual, be sure to take your whole self into consideration. This means you should have activities that address your physical health, mental well-being, spiritual needs and emotional state. By widening the scope of your routine across several areas, you will be providing yourself with the most benefit and can then move on throughout your day to pass those benefits onto others you encounter. In addition, making sure to address each of these personal aspects is more likely to produce synergistic results, meaning the gains you take from this daily routine will work together in harmonious ways to improve their effects.
Creating Your Morning Ritual
When determining your feel-good practice, start by brainstorming actions that make you feel good or that you simply enjoy. Next, determine some ways in which you could use a boost in your overall development. Then try to match the activities to the areas you want to work on. For example, if you know you could use some more exercise in your life and you love jogging, perhaps a run should be added to your final list. If you have a long commute to work, it would probably make sense to make it a job around the block or neighborhood rather than attempting to squeeze in several miles. It’s important to keep your lifestyle in mind when developing this routine. Nothing will cause you to quit faster than trying to do something that adds great complication to your life.
Examples of What to Include
One of the best things to include is hydration. Have a water bottle by your bedside to replenish the moisture you’ve lost during the night and give you a healthy start to the day. Next, you can incorporate your physical component in order to facilitate motivation for the rest of your ritual. Stretch, jog, walk, do yoga or whatever other activity you’ve determined works best. Meditation is a great addition to any morning. It is a spiritual practice that intentionally forces you to be in the moment and is a fantastic way to create a positive mindset for approaching the day. Amazon Prime members have access to lots of free meditations and meditation music.
To improve your mental facilities and to focus on gratitude, you could choose to write for five minutes each morning with a theme of being grateful set as your intention. Get yourself a pretty journal to further personalize the experience. You may also wish to read. Self-development books are a good choice as they help to keep you thinking about ways you can grow. Even taking a few minutes to skim over a few daily affirmations can be impactful. Take a shower and luxuriate in lovely-smelling products. Aromatherapy is effective in producing elevated energy, increased concentration and lifted mood. Check out my DIY Mood Mists. Finally, eat a healthy breakfast that will fuel you until your next break.
You don’t have to do all of these things each morning, and you should certainly make substitutions as they fit your preferences and lifestyle. Creating a morning ritual is fun. Plus, it places your focus on cultivating what’s important to you such as gratitude and compassion. You can adjust your routine as needed with life’s twists and turns.
