I love my positive psychology strategies and employ a number of strategies including mindfulness, deep breathing and using a gratitude journal. But at the start of the year, I saw this post from Dickie Bush and have implemented the strategy myself every day. Am loving it – have a go.
I’ve recently been starting my mornings with a 10-minute Tony Robbins “priming.”
After trying morning meditation for a long time, I’ve found this to have far more immediate tangible benefits.
Here’s how it works:
I start by visualizing 3 things I’m grateful for with the following lens:
1. Something I have now I would have begged to have had years ago
2. Something I have now I would beg to have back in 50 years
3. Something I have now I would beg to have back if I was sick or injured
Rather than just write these out, I shut my eyes and think hard about them until I feel my emotions change (facial expression, bodily sensation, etc).
It sounds a bit “woo-woo” but I immediately sense a wave of positive emotions rush through me.
At this point I’m primed to pay attention to all of the good things for the day ahead, which leads to the next step: visualizing the day.
Nothing crazy here. Just running through my calendar and thinking about how I want to perform in various areas.
I’ll think about my focused writing session, being present on team meetings, hitting my diet goals, having a great workout, adapting to anything unexpected, greeting people with good energy, etc.
This “run through” of the day starts to let my subconscious marinate on them in the background. It’s funny but now when I get to that point of the day, it feels like I’ve already been there (which makes my desired behaviours easier).
Lastly I’ll bring a couple people I care about to the front of mind and genuinely wish them well for the day ahead. I’ll visualise them being happy, calm, energized, and moving closer to their goals.
And just like that, I have a repeatable process for reverse engineering a good mood and starting the day with momentum.
If you’re looking for a small morning routine experiment, give this a try in the first 10 minutes of your day before checking your phone.
I think it works like magic. Give it a go and pass it along.
Want to learn more about some daily strategies you can use from Positive Psychology? Get in contact with Michelle Bakjac via email at michelle@bakjacconsulting.com to enquire about counselling, coaching and training for individuals and teams to enhance positive outlook.
Michelle Bakjac is an experienced Psychologist, Organisational Consultant, Coach, Speaker and Facilitator. As Director of Bakjac Consulting, she is a credentialed Coach with the International Coach Federation (ICF) and a member of Mental Toughness Partners and an MTQ Plus accredited Mental Toughness practitioner. Michelle assists individuals, teams and organisations to develop and improve performance, leadership, behaviour, resilience and wellbeing. You can find her at www.bakjacconsulting.com
