Your preparations have to start the night before.
Sit down on your bed before lying down to sleep, and tell yourself that tomorrow morning you are going to wake one hour earlier than usual. Repeat some autosuggestions or affirmations to make the mind accept this idea. Think for a while about the benefits you will gain by waking and getting up earlier, and about the things you can do in this extra hour.
It is not enough just to wake up early. Often, after waking up, we do not get out of bed, but stay for some more minutes, and then fall asleep again. You have to persuade and explain to your mind that you have to get out of bed immediately after awakening. It is pleasant to cuddle under the blankets, especially on a cold morning, but on this special day you need to get out of bed immediately.
Set your alarm clock to the appointed hour and enter your bed. While in bed, watch the thoughts that pop up into your mind, but try to do so detachedly and without any tension. Just watch them dispassionately, calmly, and in a relaxed manner, until you fall asleep.
When the alarm clock rings in the morning, get up immediately, with a smile on your face. Don't give in to the desire to stay some more minutes in bed. Don't listen to your mind, which will probably persuade you to stay in bed a little longer, because it is too early. The feeling of pleasure and power you gain by getting immediately is greater that the pleasure of staying in bed.
Get up, wash, change your clothes and sit for meditation for about twenty minutes, using any meditation technique that you know. If you do not know how to meditate, just sit down and visualize some pleasurable and happy events from the past.
I am not going to describe how to handle each and every action and situation during the day, as every individual has a different life and schedule. However, I am going to give some general examples and hints to help you design your own day.
·
Waking up earlier, gives you more time in the morning. So
why not enjoy a nourishing and tasty breakfast? Prepare something you love,
something that you usually do not have the time to prepare in the morning. You
have got the time today.
·
Endeavor to be aware of what you are doing throughout the
day. When you eat for example, pay attention to your food, and don't read the
newspaper or watch the television at the same time. If you do so, you will enjoy
your food much more. In the same way try to focus your attention on your other
activities. Concentrating on what you are doing helps you do it better and more
efficiently.
·
Remember to smile more often during the day. It is
important that the smile is not a artificial, but that it comes from inside you.
Smiling makes you and other people feel happier.
·
Expect the best and do your best.
·
Be patient and tolerant toward others.
· While driving your car, decide to be kind and tolerant toward the other drivers. Stop at street crossings to let the pedestrians cross the street. Be courteous and considerate on the road. This behavior will make you and the other drivers and pedestrians feel good. As a consequence, they too will be kind to other drivers and pedestrians, at least for a little while.
·
A good morning with a smile has a great influence on
everyone. Greet the people who work with you, even if you have never done so
before.
·
Coming to work with a strong intention to have a great day,
and handling everything in a positive and decisive manner, will have its
influence upon the people whom you come in contact with. This will help you to
broadcast peace, good will and happiness.
·
Do your best to be nice and polite today, to your family,
colleagues, friends, the seller at the grocery or supermarket, to the bus or cab
driver, to the delivery boy and to anyone else you meet today. It is all a
matter of inner attitude and choice. Exercise your power to choose a polite and
considerate attitude.
·
Make a decision that during this special day you are going
to handle everything in a cool and calm way. If you need to meet someone or do
something that usually makes you feel nervous or irritated, have a talk with
yourself beforehand. Tell yourself that you are going to stay calm and relaxed,
and that you are going to handle everything in the best way. If you feel you
need it, make several mental rehearsals. Visualize yourself going through the
situation in a very efficient way, and achieving a positive
outcome.
·
In this special day act unhurriedly. Do your best to stay
relaxed. Remind yourself often that it is your beautiful, wonderful day. Invite
into your mind thoughts and feelings of happiness, satisfaction and competence.
Imagine scenes and events from your past experiences, when you felt good and
happy. By concentrating on these mental images you let the associated feelings
and emotions well up again. Enjoy these good feelings, and try to go on enjoying
them, even after you stop thinking about them.
·
When back home from work, what about a flower, a book, or
some other small gift to your spouse and children? Even a smile, a hug or a kiss
will do. You have tried all day to be kind to other people and stay positive. Do
this at home too. Devote some quality time to your family. You have been out the
whole day; now enjoy being together with them. Earning money to support your
family is not enough. They need to feel your love and attention
too.
·
During this special day, make also some special effort to
use your time more efficiently. Do not watch too much TV, and shorten the time
that you read the newspaper. It is better to use this time to read something
inspiring that will help you improve your life, or devote a few minutes to
meditation in the afternoon or evening.
·
Don't forget to devote some time for yourself. I have
talked about meditation, but do also something that you love, such as reading a
book, writing, devoting some time to your hobby, walking or any other physical
exercises.
The above are suggestions to show you what you can do. You can adapt these
hints to your specific situation.Try to live one wonderful day. Then enjoy another day like it. If you continue, this will become a habit.
Remember that today is a special and wonderful day. It is different from the other days.
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