How To Get a Strong Start Every Day

I walked into my daughter’s room this morning to see how she was doing with online school.  “Mom, we did yoga in my first class, and it’s going to be a great day!” My daughter is not a morning person and spends a good part of the morning complaining how tired she is.  Naturally I was curious about this new outlook.  I asked, “What makes a good day, sweetie?” She replied confidently, “A day that has a strong start!”  

She was right.  A good day is one that has a strong start and that may mean something different for everyone.  The beginning of our day seems to be really important.

Why?  It’s all about our thoughts.  What truly matters is how we believe our day is going to go.  If we think we will have a good day, then we will!  One of my favorite quotes, from Henry Ford says, “Whether you think you can, or think you can’t, you’re right.”

I crossed the hallway and walked into my other daughter’s room. “Mom, I am going to have a bad day, because I woke up with my alarm instead of before.” Her thoughts were going to have a big impact on her experience of the day.

How do these early morning thoughts really influence how our day goes?  First of all, our beliefs can affect how we feel.  Deciding we are going to have a bad day most likely will lead to feelings of dread and negativity.  Believing we will have a good day will lead to hopefulness, excitement, and optimism.

Another way that beliefs can shape reality is through their influence on our behavior.  My daughter who decided she was going to have a good day will likely notice and seek out moments throughout her day that support her belief.  The same will hold true for my daughter who decided that she was going to have a bad day.  

Your beliefs can also influence the behavior of others.  For example, daughter #1 will most likely positively affect other people throughout her day, since positive feelings are contagious. Daughter #2 may spread her negativity with her interactions with others. 

The good news is that you can decide how you want to think about your day.  To be a good example for daughters, moms need to learn the power of positive thoughts.  

There are many ways to harness the power of belief to improve your life. One way is to engage in practices that change your automatic way of thinking, such as keeping a gratitude journal and starting a mindfulness practice.  Another way is to set clear intentions on how you want to approach each day and make an effort to practice holding your intention throughout the day.  

It’s up to us as moms to decide how to embody a strong start, so our daughters can follow suit.