A little more than 30 days ago, I embarked on another experiment: the Miracle Morning.
It’s a system of six habits that self-help experts recommend as among the best for making positive changes in your life. It also makes you a morning person which is one of the secrets of success of over-achieving entrepreneurs.
The Miracle Morning system consists of silence (prayer/meditation), affirmation, visualization, exercise, reading (preferably an inspirational book) and journaling. It was conceived by Hal Elrod who wrote the eponymous book.
I wish I could say that the self-help experts were wrong, that these habits do nothing for you, that it can’t be this simple to change your life for the better. But they’re right and it is.
So how did my life change?
1. More delight (and thus, more joy in my life)
November was a month filled with tumultuous political events. There was the surprise election of Donald Trump, the covert burial of former dictator Ferdinand Marcos, the protests that followed both events. Instead of getting mired in all that turmoil, I found myself noticing and focusing on little moments of delight—the sudden cool weather, tricycle drivers loaded with mattresses, Trolls the movie, discovering new podcasts which make my time in traffic fly by, unexpected gifts of yarn.
2. More focus (and the ability to get things done!)
Instead of checking my phone first, meditation followed by affirmations and visualization allowed clarity on what I wanted to accomplish. I would then make plans and take action. I was able to finalize my plans for next year, reach out to new partners and collaborators, sign up new clients, plan and book future vacations.
3. More ease (and confidence that things will work out the way they’re supposed to)
I experienced more synchronicity in my life and business. I was able to find the resources I needed (cheap party decorations for my daughter’s seventh birthday, conveniently-located Airbnbs, blog posts that seemed to write themselves). Clients working with me are leveraging my past publishing and business knowledge. Contacts that I needed ended up being friends of friends.
4. More connection with myself (and more inner guidance)
A few days ago, I woke up in the middle of the night, questioning my decision to work for myself again. I knew that was my cue to listen to my fear and allow it to speak. That was the journaling session that morning. I was able to connect again with why I do what I do and how that was more important than the comfort of a steady paycheck.
5. More mindfulness (and inspiration)
I’ve eliminated the Netflix binges, the aimless flipping through Instagram and Flipboard, in the hopes of finding new inspiration. Instead, I connected with others outside the digital world. I also walked a lot, read better books, watched better shows, made better choices.
