Food For Thought - "Morning Ritual"

"Morning Ritual"
C2002 Gail Pursell Elliott
 

Most of us have a "morning ritual," a routine that we follow when we awaken to prepare ourselves for the day.  Whether our ritual involves taking a pet for a walk or hitting the snooze button four times, sooner or later we wind up in what has been referred to as "the smallest room of the house" and we wind up taking a look in the mirror.

This is the perfect time to do "The Mirror Exercise."   I developed this goofy exercise a few years ago and use it or a variation in both "Communication: The Fragile Element" and "The Power of Dignity and Respect."   It's a great way to start the day with a positive attitude.   Add this exercise to your morning ritual for three weeks.   See what happens.

The Mirror Exercise
"Communication: The Fragile Element"
Copyright 2000 Gail Pursell Elliott

1. Look at yourself in the mirror
2. Look into your eyes
3. Smile
4. Say "Hi!"
5. Do this 3 times
(Don't worry if you start laughing or feel silly - it's ok!)
6. Keep looking into your eyes
7. Say "I'm good enough, I'm smart enough, and gosh darn it, people like me!"
Say "Welcome to a new day - full of limitless possibilities for great things!"
Say "Every day in every way I'm getting better and better and better!"
Or pick out personal and positive statements that you like.

This exercise releases positive endorphins into your body.   It begins the process of positive self-talk, which affects our attitude, and what kind of day we have.   We know that having a positive attitude is important, but often don't know how to begin to develop or maintain it.   This exercise can help.

The Food For Thought "Dignity, Don't Label Me!" recommended writing a list of positive descriptors, the labels that we are willing to own and keeping it handy.   As an addition to the Mirror Exercise, make a copy of that list and tape it on the side of the mirror to remind ourselves and to validate who we're really talking to:   not the surface reflection but the substance of who we are.

Most of us look in a mirror to check our appearance at least once during the day.   We may or may not like all of what we see.  But if we are being true to ourselves, we will probably like WHO we see.   And that has much to do with our sense of personal dignity.

There's an old expression relating to ethical conduct that refers to being able to look at oneself in the mirror.   In the old vampire legends, Dracula avoided mirrors.   As a being that sucked the life from others on a regular basis, if he looked in the mirror there was nothing to see.   No reflection at all.

Since most of us do not fall into the Dracula category, we are assured that we will see something in the mirror.   Liking who we see there may be more difficult if our actions have not been a reflection of our inner truth.   It is easier when our behavior matches our values, our inner substance, no matter how inconvenient it may be.   Each day is a new opportunity to reconnect with that truth and to carry it forward with us into all of our experiences.

Have a Great Day and be good to yourself.  You deserve it!

Gail

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