This morning, sitting in my patio, there’s a soft Caribbean breeze on my skin. It’s shortly after 6:30 a.m., the sun is starting to bring colour to the sky and I hear the first birds to greet the morning. There’s a glass of warm water and lemon beside me, and I have spent time in meditation and noted three things I am grateful for in my journal. Now, I select a page at random from The Book of She. I read: ‘When I tell a woman she is beautiful, it has nothing to do with her looks, but everything to do with how she walks through the fire, burns her masks and stands naked in her soul.’ These words speak to me, and I reflect on my many burns from walking through fire, and the challenge of standing naked, being vulnerable, showing up as me.
This is a typical morning practice for me. I have had dedicated morning practices for at least a couple of decades. The nature of the practice shifts, sometimes, it is yoga and mediation, or walking the bridge in Saskatoon on the way to the coffee shop and journaling, or dancing & gratitude practice, or maybe time with morning pages. I select the practices that will serve me best for a particular time period. I spend anywhere from 10 to 90 minutes on my morning ritual most days of the week.
This ritual helps me to connect to myself – physically, emotionally and spiritually. It supports me in clarifying what is most important to me and what I want to focus on for the day. It is an investment in my well-being.
These days, I especially enjoy reading a poem or inspirational passage. This often grounds me, stirs or encourages me and connects me to my highest spiritual self. Recently I have been sinking into The She Book by Tanya Markul. I am also enjoying Canadian Rupi Kaur and of course, Mary Oliver.
Lots of folks are chatting about morning rituals in the leadership arena right now, and it is a common conversation in podcasts and workshops. It is becoming clear that many ‘successful’ people have morning rituals that serve them well and the science and stories on the benefits of these practices continue to grow. Here are a few links:
Take note of how Brene Brown starts her day
Forbes Article Ten Morning Rituals of Successful Entrepreneurs
The Power Of The Early Morning Ritual: Why Science Believes It Makes For A High-Achieving Leader
In several of his books and podcasts, Tim Ferriss mentions his morning routine
Enjoy our posts on similar topics:
A Turning Point in Self Care – Yoga
Choosing to Live the Life of My Dreams
More on gratitude practice Embrace All of Yourself
What Sustains You When the Going Gets Tough
Connect with us: Tell us about your morning rituals or about poetry you are reading at info@womeninleadershipforlife.ca
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