Do This Every Morning for a Better Life

Many people wake up already defeated. 

Do you wake up, check your phone, react to the world, and then wonder why you feel empty and discouraged by 1 PM?

If you want a better mindset, and a better day, it rarely starts with your phone. Don't invite the world's chaos into your brain as soon as you wake up. Your phone is a tool, not a master. The first hour is for you, not them. 

Instead of checking your phone, check your mind. This changes everything. 

Marcus Aurelius reminded us: 

When you arise in the morning, think of what a precious privilege it is to be alive—to breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love.

A moment of gratitude upon waking can shift your entire day.

I no longer have my phone in the bedroom. I've gone back to an old-school “opportunity clock”.

The first moments for your day could be a time to:

• Think of things you are grateful for.
• Pray.
• Get 10 minutes of exercise.
• Yoga.
• Savour your coffee. 
• Anticipate the challenges and rude people your day will surely bring. Then when they show up you can respond with wisdom & grace.
• Read a poem.
• Stretch. 
• Smile intentionally. 
• Repeat a positive affirmation. 
• Drink a glass of water.
• Eat a healthy, brain-based breakfast. 
• …The possibilities are many, but you already know that.

If you want a life that transforms, you cannot start your day on auto-pilot. The "Primacy Effect" is real. It leads to an anchoring bias that heavily influences what follows. Start the day with mindful intention. Remember, tranquility starts with less. If you don't set the destination for your day, the world will set it for you. 

Eleanor Roosevelt said, "With the new day comes new strength and new thoughts." Each morning offers a fresh start, and a chance to renew your energy and mindset. But, only if you act on it. 

Thanks for reading. You are a genius!

This article was first published in Terry Small's Brain Bulletin newsletter.

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