How do you start your day?

“You’ll never change your life until you change something you do daily. The secret of your success is found in your daily routine.”  So said author, pastor and leadership guru, John C. Maxwell.

We all have a morning routine. Of course, it includes things like brushing your teeth, getting dressed and enjoying your favorite beverage. For some it also includes getting the kids ready, making lunches and ensuring everyone has what they need for the day.

No matter who you are or what roles you fill, you need time to quiet your soul. And how you start your day can determine not only how your day goes, but how your life goes too.

I used to get up and turn on the television to hear the morning news. But what I found over time that it was a terrible way to start my day. The chatter and stress of world events set me up to carry noise in my head throughout the day.

What I discovered was key to changing my behavior. I realized that how I start my day influences the rest of the day…and my life.

We all have to find our own path—our own routine and practices that work for us.

I want to share what has worked well for me. Reflect. Read. Resolve.

Reflect – A mark of our fast-paced “always on” lives is that we forget to take time to be silent and reflect. My morning routine involves making a lovely espresso drink and sitting in my favorite chair. I reflect on recent events, issues I’m dealing with, and the status of my relationships and goals. It means being silent and giving myself space to just be, think, process and feel. I give myself permission to just reflect.

Read –I’ve had a reading routine for years. Sometimes I read the bible (and even then in different order and with different goals). Other times I read devotionals or books that are life-giving and speak to where I’m at in my journey. I often quote a favorite truth once spoken by the famous American basketball coach John Wooden. He said, “Five years from now, you’re the same person except for the people you’ve met and the books you’ve read.”

Resolve – As I sit in silence, I resolve what kind of person I want to be and how I want my day to go. This is a time to evaluate how things are going, what has worked and not worked, and what changes I need to make. It’s a good time to think about my goals and priorities for the day, and how I want to be a better person.

My favorite Franciscan, Richard Rohr, often says, “How you do anything is how you do everything.”

By becoming a more contemplative, intentional person, I can change how I do everything.

So how do you start your day?

“You’ll never change your life until you change something you do daily. The secret of your success is found in your daily routine.”

Photo by Werner Sevenster on Unsplash