Fresh Perspective
Start fresh. Clear the slate. Begin again. These all remind me of the morning. In the morning, we are all faced with a blank slate. A brand new day to do with as we see fit. As the sun rises in the dark sky a little at a time the colors first red, then orange and pink fill the sky as if to say “I am here”. Never the same as yesterday and as equally spectacular as tomorrow. That rising sun encourages the birds to wake and sing. All with fresh vibrant excitement for a new dawn. And while the colors may change or the songs may be different the routine of the sun rising and the birds singing is the same. It’s what they were made to do!
Are your routines lining up with your purpose? How do you even feel about routine? Why is it that some adults adhere to a routine while others dismiss it as being rigid, boring or controlling?
I love structure. But, I am certain God has a sense of humor because I married the most laid back human being on the planet! Learning how to balance the structure that I thrive on while going with my husband's flow has to be God’s way of teaching me patience, self control and effective communication. What a spectacle we can make in our disagreements on the subject! Here’s what I have learned with certainty over the years.
Routine helps us create structure and increases our efficiency. When we manifest good habits, things become more comfortable and familiar. We end the day feeling accomplished. The feeling of accomplishment comes from making good use of our time and good use of our time requires intentional prioritizing of that time.
Bestselling author Stephen Covey highlights seven habits of effective people.
Those habits include:
Being proactive
Knowing our purpose and setting goals
Prioritizing and being disciplined
Seeking beneficial relationships
Understanding and finding value in others opinions and expertise
Taking good care of your own health
We can’t just float through life hoping to get where we want to go. Most of us would never dare try to drive to a new place without GPS or a map at the very least. Why then, do we float through life without a plan or even a single goal? Maybe it’s time to start thinking about getting ourselves into a routine that encourages growth.
We do live in the land of opportunity, after all. “The future belongs to those who believe in the power of their dreams” ...but you have to get up and go after it!!
Do you know your purpose? Do you have core values for yourself and/or your family? When was the last time you set goals and achieved them? Are you prioritizing tasks and focusing on getting them done? What kind of relationships do you have? Is there open communication and value in your relationships? And most importantly, are you taking care of yourself? The single most important thing you can do for yourself is to take care of you.
You are important - your health, your mental clarity, your physical body and your spirituality. Each one is vital in its own way, and each influences the others. For instance, when we eat nourishing, life giving food then we have the energy to move our body physically. When we are spiritually aligned then our mental clarity is on point. Mental clarity leads to excellent choices in and around health. It’s one giant circle feeding into the greatness that is YOU!
Today I want to challenge you. Ask yourself; what does your daily routine look like? How can you create time to focus your energy on things that add value to your life? Where can you start a routine that creates good habits? Don’t wait! Start now.
