The Wisdom In Having A Morning Routine

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For the past several years there has been a heavy interest and curiosity in morning routines.  Especially those of successful people.  After having my own morning practice, I’ve realised that it isn’t about what you do, but more so ‘how’ you do it.

Through my own experience I’ve found that my daily routine has great benefits such as calming my mind, strengthening my mindset and helping to keep anxiety at bay.  I’ve noticed a radical shift in myself.  When I can’t do all of my desired morning routine tasks, I always at least do my meditation (a minimum of 15 minutes).  I used to find that I had to force myself to meditate, but now it is a natural necessity for me to start my day. I will always make time for it, just as I make time to brush my teeth or have a shower.  I’ve been meditating every day for the past three years and it’s been amazing!

If you’re ready to carve out your own morning routine, I would suggest that you give yourself freedom to try out a lot of activities and see what sits well with you.  I do suggest though that you stick to it for at least 21 days to see if you would like to maintain a particular habit.  Just like I said above, meditating was a chore, but then it became a welcomed daily activity.

If you start your day right, it leads to having a more productive and focused day.  When I say productive, I don’t just mean that you’re ‘on the grind’ wearing yourself down.  I mean that you’re able to be more focused and present with each task that you chose to spend your day doing, because your mind is more relaxed. 

Stress produces inflammation in our body and turns our body against us.  If you want to reduce your stress, having a morning routine is a preventative rather than a cure.  It will make you more energised and excited for life, happier, give you a sense of accomplishment and allow you to create some space to connect with your inner self.

This alone plays an important role in your personal development. 

Here are some practical steps to creating your morning routine:

  • Do it first thing as soon as you wake up.  This will allow your brain to have fewer thoughts.  So when I say first thing, I do not mean – after you’ve checked your emails, after you’ve checked Facebook and after you’ve scrolled through Instagram.  I mean get up, possibly pee if you need to and get straight to it!  This will allow less room for you to negotiate yourself out of it
  • Stay focused.  No need to create a 2 hour morning routine.  Just start off with something small as 15 minutes where you dedicate your time to something.  You chose what you want to do.  I have provided some suggestions below (however the world is your oyster on this! Get creative and tap into what you are truly called to do that will help benefit your soul)  I go through a lot of these techniques in my healing online program.  
    • Meditate
    • Breathwork
    • Pray
    • Wisdom journal writing
    • Dream journal writing
    • Gratitude journal writing
    • Oracle cards
    • Dance
    • Yoga
    • Visualisations
    • Affirmations
    • Chanting
    • Read
    • Listen to a positive podcast
    • Listen to a positive Youtube clip
    • Exercise
  • Stay present.  Whatever you chose to do, make sure you remain present on the task.  Don’t get distracted to check your phone or to start planning for your day ahead. Don’t cheat yourself of this precious time. 

Start your day by putting yourself first.  This will help rewire your brain into knowing that you come first before anything else.  Stop giving your power away to other useless distractions that do not serve you.  If you give yourself these 15 minutes, it will start progressing to more and more time that you serve yourself, your purpose and create the energy you need to live a fulfilling life.

The next time you decide to start a morning routine, just remember that you are choosing to change your life.

ACCESSING YOUR INNER WISDOM

You can access your inner wisdom by displaying gratitude and appreciation towards others, yourself or your current situation, it will make you feel joyful and bring you into alignment with your soul and a higher vibration.  Practicing gratitude is well known for it’s positive side effects.  Your time in this lifetime is limited, so don’t waste it by not appreciating the present moment.

Appreciation will help you notice simple joys in your daily life.  You will also more than likely engage in behaviours and habits that will open you up to receiving and creating a life that is set up for success.  It is within the sense of gratitude that will help you chose your own life and have a happier perception on it.  It’s the new medicine, with only positive side effects!

When appreciation is expressed it elevates your emotions and vibration that causes your heart and energy to expand with love and joy.  When your energy is high you will help improve your immune system, sleep and stress levels.  Below are some simple steps to incorporate gratitude into your daily practice

  • Watch your thoughts

Practice creating positive thoughts and a new way of thinking.  Re wire your brain to be trained to think of problems as opportunities to grow.  Release your limiting beliefs that continue to run in your head

  • Keep a gratitude journal

I’ve written extensively on this and you can find out more through my Guide to Intuitive Journal Writing Course.  However, spend each morning writing what you are grateful for.

  • Stop to thank others

When you thank others, truly mean it and tell them why you are grateful.

  • Meditate

Meditate to promote appreciation.  Get yourself so relaxed and attuned with what you are grateful for and allow that emotion to be the centre of your meditation. 

JOURNAL WRITING FOR THE MIND, BODY AND SOUL

notebook opened on desk near books

In May 2020 I launched my first ever online programme around journal writing. I wanted to help create change for good, by allowing people to create the space for writing through inner exploration and connecting with their soul.  For me, journal writing has allowed me to look deeper into myself and perceive things from my soul’s view rather than my analytical mind, hence changing my beliefs and escaping from negative thought patterns. 

You can think of journal writing as a way to take on board your own advice. You don’t need to have someone else tell you what you need to do, what to eat, what action to take in your business.  You have all of the answers within you. When you are able to drop into a quieter mind, you are then able to reach a point where you can make decisions and receive clarity on any situations.

Eventually, when you make journal writing a daily habit, you will begin to perceive the changes in your mind, body as well as soul.

  • It will help reduce stress and remove emotional blockages when you find some uninterrupted time for yourself
  • It will allow you to have a more resilient outlook when you take a few deep breaths and meditate before journal writing and write from a place of centeredness
  • It will improve sleep quality if you write before going to bed to free flow and release any negative thoughts and feelings onto paper.  No thinking, just allowing.  If you do this – I suggest to rip up the paper or burn it safely

You can be your very own coach and mentor – you intuition has a story to tell and that story is; that you are your own guide and the answers are within you.  It’s been twenty-four years that I’ve been journal writing and I’m only getting started on connecting with my inner wisdom through it.  I look back on how it has evolved for me and my current course has been created through thousands of trials and efforts and I’m sure it will continue to evolve.

If you’re looking to learn how to express genuine gratitude, create an abundance mindset and allow love to guide your way – then check out my 21 Day Intuitive Journal Writing Course today >>> Click here

QUESTIONS EVERY BUSINESS OWNER SHOULD ASK

Have you ever been in business with someone or made an investment with someone and then started to ask questions from them, only to receive responses of defensiveness and/ or dismissiveness? 

When something like this now occurs to me, it usually gets me thinking that

a) they’ve done wrong and aren’t able to hold themselves accountable,

b) they fear others questioning them and/ or

c) they don’t believe you’re worthy of an answer.

According to the Oxford dictionary, scam is defined as, ‘a dishonest scheme, a fraud’.  Another way to think of it is that it’s a way that dishonest people will attempt to take advantage of you and your trusting nature.  It occurs when we stop listening to our intuition and we’re taken in by misleading sales practices, enticing financial projections and statements that sound too good to be true.  It’s almost as if we push our intuition aside that’s screaming out “Noooooooooo” right to the back of our minds. 

The challenge most of us face is that when we receive information that seems appealing, we want to hold onto the hope and promise and by the time we start listening to our intuition – it’s too late – you’ve gone too far and you’re now in a situation you want to run away from.

Often, after we’ve realised our grave mistake, we begin to feel shame and guilt around how we were so easily fooled. 

I’ve been in this exact situation and it does not feel good. 

It’s taken a lot of RTT Hypnosis work to be able to release these emotions and it is still something I’m working on today. 

However, when I did come to a realisation that I had been duped, I found power in asking questions.  And all I can do is urge others to ask questions before making a decision.  Not just around business, but also around who you want to mentor you, what you want to study or even relationships you want to move into (friends and/or lovers).  There is such great power in asking questions.  We’re in a world where we have access to a lot of information, but it is our duty to discern what is factual, what perhaps needs more investigation and what needs to be ignored.

Below I’ve written some questions that you should be asking when it comes to business decisions:

  •  Does it sound too good to be true?

Remember that those talking to you about their business idea or service are going to be super nice to you and they want you to invest a lot of money and at the end of the day they want a sale – they are not your friend.  Do not take what they say at face value.  If they keep saying that things are ‘easy’ or play down the role of what you will be required to do – take this as warning signs

  • What do past stakeholders and/customers have to say about them?

Make sure you reach out to people who have dealt with them (all stakeholders).  Are they people who live with integrity with their values? Did others think they received value for their investment?  Have they received a good financial return on their investment?  How about ongoing or hidden costs?  Are their customers happy with the way they’re dealt with?  Do they have any legal history?  Google search their background.  Facebook search their background.  You’ll be surprised at what you’ll find!

  • Are they pressuring you into making a decision?

Take all the time you need.  There is no rush if you’re dealing with a genuinely good business person.  If someone is pushing you into making decisions, it is more than likely that they have something to hide and are wanting you to make a commitment before you find out something about them that they don’t want you to find out.  If they constantly check in on you and are harassing you, I would simply walk away then and there.  As a business owner I totally understand that there should be normal follow ups as part of your customer service eg. Perhaps the day after, the 7 day mark and at the 30 day mark.  But if it becomes excessive, ask yourself ‘why?’

Overall, just remember that your nervous system receives things that our mind doesn’t.  So if you’re feeling ‘off’ about something or are feeling emotions that are of lower frequency, then take the time to listen to them.  It should be of no surprise when you have strong emotions to walk away.  It does not mean you’re a quitter.  It means you know what is aligned with your truth.

You do not owe anyone anything.  You owe yourself a business and a life that brings you joy and serves you financially.  You should love what you do so much, that it stops feeling like ‘work’.  Seek something that you will love and align yourself with people of integrity.

40 BOOKS TO GUIDE YOU THIS YEAR

When you read a book it allows you to disappear into another reality, another realm.  At times it could you give guidance on life decisions, inspire you to take action or give you a peek into how others live their lives.  It is very easy to commit to a reading challenge, and then you need to set time aside to achieve your goal.

I spent the last New Year’s Eve finishing off 2 books that still had a few pages left to read before I partied on. Hahahha!

Below are the 40 books I read and one line of what gift it gave me. 

FICTION

A Swiftly Tilting Planet (Time Quintet #3) by Madeleine L’Engle

The importance of family

The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris

An amazing story of Holocaust survivors

Cruel Crown by Victoria Aveyard (Prequel to the Red Queen)

Women are incredible (A lot of books empowered me with this message)

The Dovekeepers by Alice Hoffman

Opened my eyes to a time in history I didn’t know much about at all

House Rules by Jodi Picoult

Learnt so much about Aspergers

War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy

Never ever EVER read a book ‘just because’

Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng

Nobody’s life is perfect

Beartown by Fredrik Backman

Sports is not just the time on the field.  It’s a culture, history, family and sometimes  a way out a certain upbringing

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

Females are strong and independent.  Life flows from them.

The Year That Changed Everything by Cathy Kelly

Women can support each other through life-changing experiences

All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

There is always a spark of light, even amidst the darkest hours

The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton

Made me wish I owned a cottage on the coast with a hidden garden and huge trees

Home Fire by Kamila Shamsie

Never sacrifice your own dreams and ambitions for the sake of others

The Betrayal by Kate Furnivall

Even though you are raised from the same family and have the same incidents happen to you, doesn’t mean you have to react the same way as others.  Chose your own path.

The Lake House by Kate Morton

I could defs have a summer home on an English Lakeside Estate.

The Alice Network by Kate Quinn

Intimidation over you only works if you let it.

NON FICTION

The Vortex: Where the Law of Attraction Assembles All Co Operative Relationships by Esther Hicks

Learnt how to prioritise my emotions and trust them to guide me

Dirty Genes: A Breakthrough Program to Treat the Root Cause of Illness and Optimize your Health by Ben Lynch

I’m now ‘in the know’ about Epigenetics

Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah

Trevor Noah is hilarious and deep at the same time

12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos by Jordan B Peterson

Could have been written in a short blog post

Conversations With God: An Uncommon Dialogue Book 1, 2 and 3 by Neale Donald Walsch

How to look at life with an open mind and heart.

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou

Made me wonder why I hadn’t read more of Maya Angelou’s work!  Very inspirational

Living Forward: A Proven Plan to Stop Drifting and Get the Life You Want by Michael Hyatt

Get ready to design the life you want and be prepared to take action.

Mom & Me & Mom

Women hold a lot of power within themselves

Rise of the Youpreneur by Chris Ducker

People to People businesses are the next big thing.  Get amongst it!

Lost Connections:  Uncovering the Real Causes of Depression – and the Unexpected Solutions by Johann Hari

There are so many things you can do to tweak things if you’re suffering from anxiety and/ or depression that can help make your situation better

Journey of Souls:  Case Studies of Life Between Lives by Michael Newton

Past Life Regression is a real thing

Profit First: Transform your Business from a Cash-Eating Monster to a Money Making Machine by Mike Michalowicz

It’s a good thing to put yourself first

You’re it!  On Hiding, Seeking and Being Found by Alan W Watts

Taught me so much about my internal world

Sacred Powers: The Five Secrets to Awakening Transformation by Davidji

Powerful lessons to create freedom

Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World by Cal Newport

So much valuable information to survive today’s world

Destiny Of Souls: New Case Studies of Life Between Lives Michael Newton

I will never view my life the same again

The Best Year of Your Life: Dream it, Plan it, Live it by Debbie Ford

Kick start your life goals

The Map of the Soul:  Discovering your True Purpose by Tricia Brennan

Take time to tune inwards

The Code of the Extraordinary Mind: 10 Unconventional Laws to Redefine Your Life and Success on Your Own Terms by Vishen Lakhiani

Be proud of what you have achieved.  Own it.

The 8th Habit: From Effectiveness to Greatness by Stephen R Covey

Fundamentals necessary to create your life vision

Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain by John J Ratey

Moving your body is one of the most powerful tools to optimise your brain

Even Happier: A Gratitude Journal for Daily Joy and Lasting Fulfillment

A great way to create a journal writing ritual

IT’S TIME TO EMBRACE YOUR DIVINE

“Investing in yourself is the best investment you will ever make.  It will not only improve your life, it will improve the lives of all those around you” – Robin Sharma

We are always rushing to do one thing or another – rarely making time to pause, reflect and contemplate.  There’s chores to be done, work to be completed, deadlines to meet, bills to pay, friends to catch up with and family to take care of.  This list is endless.  As we focus on these things – you’ll soon realise that most of the tasks within our day doesn’t focus on ourselves and our needs.  We’re usually meeting someone else’s needs.  Someone else’s expectations.

With all these daily tasks, it’s easy to lose a sense of ourselves and the divine within us.  We forget that we are soul beings and our soul needs to be tended to as well as our body, our mind, our financial situation, our family and our external environment. 

Some may think that to make time for your soul you need to fit a certain stereotype or dedicate so many hours per day to be spiritual or soul centred.  But that’s where you’re wrong.  Every single person on this planet is a soul centred being and all it takes is a moment of stillness to reconnect with that divine within us.  That connection is to remind us that we are eternally good.  That we are made of love.  And that others around us are exactly the same.

In this fast paced environment, it is ever so urgent that we now take the time to turn inwards and take that time for reflection.  I’ve said it so many times, but a simple, yet powerful way to create that soul connection is through a regular practice of meditation.  Take the time to pause, truly sense your emotions and embrace the power within. 

When you invest in yourself, it does not just have to be financially.  It can also be by investing your time and energy on yourself to create a beautiful present moment.  If you’re ready to dabble in some meditation, I want you to listen to this meditation. Take the time to meditate in the morning either sitting in bed or perhaps in nature.  Trust me, you will be so happy that you started this practice.

THE POWER OF WISDOM JOURNAL WRITING

“This achieving the centre, being grounded in one’s self, is about the highest state a human being can achieve” – Bruce Lee

For the last couple of years, each morning I journal to my intuition and I witness the wisdom that my soul provides me.

Do you ever wonder how you can create a deeper relationship with yourself? 

In my case, I find that free form journal writing from my intuition allows me to gain more inner wisdom and make choices that are soul centred rather than coming from a place of fear or limiting beliefs.

Before I do my journal writing, I usually meditate for at least 15 minutes.  Overall, my goal in life is to feel unlimited, divine and know that I am worthy.  What I ultimately achieve with journal writing is an activation of those things and an increase in my intuitive abilities and energy.  It allows me to set my day right and in the right mindset of creating my own future and coming from a place of peace and knowing, rather than a place of lack.  This is why it’s important to me and my mental state.  As you can see, it’s a powerful exercise for making daily decisions and exploring your own mindset and beliefs.

For those who have done my 21 Day Journal writing course, they have had the opportunity to learn a few things to help shape their life into the one that they’re wanting and using the power of journal writing to help heal emotions as you reflect on your life journey.

If you haven’t done so already, start journaling to your soul and untangle your thoughts.

SOUL REFLECTIONS

“Charting your own course isn’t just more necessary than ever before.  It’s also much easier – and much more fun” – Pink

Over the last few years, I’ve decided that there’s no point waiting for my situation to miraculously become better before taking that step to actually make it better.  There’s no need to wait for someone to give you permission or wait until you are completely happy.  In doing so, you can manifest your beliefs and your own reality.  Creating new beliefs takes time and practice.  At the beginning you may feel deceptive to yourself and think that you’re just fooling yourself, but I’ve implemented daily exercises to my day to assist with this:

What would you have to believe about yourself to create your desired experience? What would you have to do?  What would you have to generally believe? 

‘I am’ statements help build affirmations and reaffirm beliefs.  Eg. I am powerful.  I am beautiful.  I am exciting.

As the year 2020 flies by, I think I’ve been doing quite well.  I’ve realised that mindset and mindfulness is a daily practice and not something that’s to be done as a solution, but rather a preventative.  My main belief is that soul connection is key to living a fulfilling life and I choose to focus on my soul studies.  I always think that we have unlimited opportunities, therefore I am always seeking, open to learning and being a student of life and most importantly – applying what I learn to my life.  I know that there’s no rush to go or be anywhere or to do any thing in particular; instead – what I create is a reflection of my beliefs and I’m willing to simply experience love and freedom in whatever form that flows my way.

Remember that you are capable of achieving whatever you want.  Why not make 2020 your year to feel love, abundance and joy from the Universe?

NAVIGATING YOUR WAY THROUGH CHANGE AND TRANSFORMATION

Do you think transformation is possible through everyday life or do you need to step away from your usual surroundings and experience something else on offer? 

The average Australian works 30 hours per week.  In Mexico they work on average 43 hours and the United States 34 hours per week.  That’s a lot of hours! 

With the appearance of the ‘digital age’ and majority of people now working from home, people can continue to work ‘un-clocked’ hours as well.  Or perhaps are working two jobs to make ends meet or work on their passionate side project in their personal time.

But the constant grind, will simply wear you out. (Been there – done that).

You don’t need to take a holiday overseas or even domestically.  But you do need to make the time to give yourself a break and revive the soul.  Surprisingly, a lot of us have guilt around ‘self care’ and taking ‘time off’ and end up putting it on ‘The Bucket List’ rather than the ‘To-Do’ list.

Having suffered from anxiety, I make self-care a priority.  If it doesn’t get done, I can start to feel things crumble around me.  If I take a break of 5 or more days where I’m away from doing my usual work tasks – then I feel even better!  Just having that respite helps your brain to re calibrate, relax and get a fresh perspective on life, rather than feeling stale, stuck and stagnant.

As humans we are ever evolving, whether we like it or not.  Each cell in our body is transforming every day and sometimes on a conscious level, we have to let go of old mindsets and beliefs to be able to move forward and enjoy a new chapter in life.

I just wanted to write this blog as a reminder for you to create and schedule that change you may need in your life.  Lock the dates in now in your diary and stick to you.  Eg.  10JUN –  15JUN switching off the computer and having a stay-cation! Just as long as it’s away from your normal every day routine.  You deserve it.

BE PART OF YOUR OWN SOUL COUNCIL

Have you ever wondered why, despite our best efforts, we have so much fear and cynicism about life after death – the possibility of being judged or punished?

While we often think of this as a learned behaviour from religious beliefs, law enforcement or perhaps parental influence the new age book Destiny of Souls by Michael Newton points to an ultimate source of divine authority playing a role, suggesting they are wise beings with great compassion for humans.  He uncovers that they are very patient with our mistakes and failures and passes on the information that we are given multiple ‘second chances’ in future lives on Earth.  In this case, when another life is lived, you won’t be having to repay any ‘karmic debt’ per say based on your past mistakes or failures, but rather having subsequent lessons when coming to Earth that we ourselves have chosen for further spiritual growth. 

The book provides a compelling image that a Soul meets with this council of Elders usually twice.  Once, after a life on Earth has ended and secondly, just before you go back to Earth. What happens at the first council is usually a recount of some major choices that were made in the life just lived and they are reviewed.  In the second council meeting we are told of potential major life choices and opportunities.  The concept of the meeting is not to judge the Souls or receive punishments for our ‘sins’ but rather to help us better achieve our goals in the next lifetime.  However, just because the Elders are like encouraging teachers doesn’t mean that we’re not our own worst critics.  The council hearing usually ends up making souls feel welcome and at ease.  The result is that feelings are discussed about past life actions and desirable actions for future lives. 

So if you know that you’re going to be meeting a council after death, why not keep a journal and do a nightly review of what you did throughout your day, how you’re feeling about your choices, what new opportunities could be possible for you tomorrow and what actions you plan on taking upon waking.

This is your legacy.  What is your soul calling you to do?