Your day is a microcosm of your life. If you want a more beautiful, purposeful and blissful existence, begin by filling each day with more beauty, purpose and bliss. The best time to build momentum in your day is first thing in the morning.
Creating a morning ritual is one of the most powerful ways to transform your life. A ritual can be described as “a religious or sacred ceremony consisting of a series of actions performed in a prescribed order.” Unlike running on autopilot, rituals are habits imbued with extra intention and a sense of sacredness.
In Atomic Habits, a book by James Clear, he suggests, “we do not rise to the level of our goals, we fall to the level of our systems.” Intentions are beautiful. But it is the choices made on a daily basis that paint the canvas of life. As you take on 2022, consider adding these new rituals into your day. At the very least, allow them to inspire personalized rituals of your own.
1. Begin with purpose
Holocaust survivor Viktor Frankl proposed that meaning or purpose is one of the greatest longings of the human soul. He suggested that people only seek pleasure and power in the absence of true purpose. The Japanese use the term ikigai to describe your reason for getting out of bed. It is a combination of your purpose and your passions. What is your ikigai?
Consider writing down your purpose(s) for your life or even for this season of life, as it may change over time. What are you moving toward? What change do you want to create in the world? How do you want to serve the planet and her inhabitants? This list can be as brief or extensive as you’d like.
Before opening your phone or opening social media each morning, review your purpose. Reflect on the mission calling you forward. Imagine what your life looks like when you pursue your purpose on a daily basis. Visualize the world you are creating. Spend time soaking in the vibration of this vision. Allow your cells to become flooded with purpose. Then bring this sense of meaning into every moment and interaction in your day.
2. Seize life’s lemons (literally)
Lemon juice is a powerful catalyst for daily wellness. Beginning your day with a glass of lemon water is an easy way to build healthy momentum in less than a minute. Lemon juice has been shown to improve digestion, support liver health and balance blood sugar. It’s also a great source of raw vitamin C. Squeezing one whole lemon into 8 to 16 ounces of water offers a morning boost on its own, or you can bring this morning ritual to the next level by adding a scoop of green juice and a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar.
3. Breathe like you mean it
Most people don’t breathe well. Shallow, unintentional breaths can lead to increased stress, a weakened immune system and cardiovascular problems. Ideally, you want to breathe deeply into your diaphragm, allowing your stomach to expand before your chest.
Box breathing is a simple exercise to practice mindful breath. Start by inhaling slowly for four seconds, holding your breath for four seconds, exhaling slowly for four seconds, holding again for four seconds, and repeating the process. It can help to visualize a side of a box being formed with each breath or hold. You can also change the number of seconds, as long as all “sides of the box” remain the same length.
Deep breathing has been shown to activate the parasympathetic nervous system, allowing the body to shift from fight-or-flight to rest-and-digest. It’s one of the most accessible tools to fill your day with peace, self-care and intention.
4. Fill the world with love
The world can always use more kindness, and it’s something that can boost your health. Studies have shown acts of kindness and compassion can lower blood pressure, reduce cortisol and increase oxytocin, just to name a few of the many benefits.
There are many ways to spread kindness. You could create a ritual of reaching out to friends and family each day. You could perform an act of kindness for your partner, children or housemates each day. You could also practice a loving-kindness meditation, also known as metta meditation, in which you send positive energy to yourself and others through visualization. However you choose to fill the world with love, remember “a candle loses nothing by lighting another candle.” Love is an unlimited resource if we allow it to be.
5. Nourish with adaptogens
Adaptogens are a class of herbs and mushrooms that may support a healthy response to stress, and more.. Starting your day with the adaptogens is an easy, powerful way to provide your body with extra support. Popular adaptogens include ashwagandha, rhodiola and cordycep mushrooms and turmeric and reishi mushrooms.
6. Create your own ritual
There are plenty of positive morning rituals that are not included in this list. Consider adding movement, reading, journaling, affirmations and more. Only you will know which activities fit your morning ritual best. Start by clarifying what kind of life you want to live, then work backwards to build the daily rituals that will bring your vision to life. At Organifi, we help people create easy, powerful rituals through the magic of adaptogens. If you’re looking for more joyful well-being and lasting transformation, we would be honored to become part of your story.
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