Do you get up in the morning already feeling rushed? Do you find it difficult to be present because you are always thinking about your to-do list or the next place you need to be? Do you find yourself getting set off by the little things and then regretting your reactions?

I know what it is like to have a busy day and we all have the same 24 hours, so I wanted to provide you with some tools that I find helpful to get me through my day with what I like to call grace. Grace to me means ease and trust, being open and enjoying the flow of things.

5-10 Minutes: As soon as I am awake I like to visualize. The time right when you wake and right before you fall asleep is prime attractor time. I like to breathe deeply and “turn up my volume”. I think of my life and the world as being exactly how I want it to be. Then, I put myself into that feeling of contentment and peace. I hold that feeling and then amplify it. I visualize a light within myself extending farther and farther out until I am beaming. If you are a Reiki practitioner, you can simply draw Reiki in and fill yourself up with it until you are shining with it.

1-2 Minutes: When I feel juiced up, I do a quick stretch and take a few deep breaths. This brings my attention to the present and gets things moving. Our muscles, ligaments and tendons hold our beliefs so if you find your body is rigid, that may reflect some beliefs that need to be worked out.

1 minute: Then I grab my water and I add one drop of lemon essential oil. If you are unfamiliar with essential oils, squeezing a lemon is great as well. Consuming 1-2 cups of water first thing in the morning will help support your metabolism and the lemon is great for your liver. Your liver in Traditional Chinese Medicine helps you with all your decision-making so supporting it can help you as you process events throughout the day.

10 minutes: I then find a cozy spot with a piece of paper and a pen and begin writing. Julia Cameron wrote The Artist’s Way, and this is a form of what she terms ‘morning pages’. Here I dump out anything that is on my mind, my to do list, things that are bothering me, my goals, things I need to sort out etc.

I still use a pen and paper because the hand position that you hold when writing can activate certain energy centers and states of awareness in the body that typing just cannot mimic. Give it a try. Once my time is up, I tear up my paper and recycle it. This is a way of freeing your mind, so you can be present in your day.

10 minutes: I then do a brief meditation. Meditating can reduce stress and set you up for the rest of your day. As I mentioned, your mind is particularly receptive in the morning so take advantage and set the tone for the day. I like to diffuse one of my favorite essential oils like sandalwood or frankincense to anchor the feelings during my meditation.

Time Varies: Then I begin my morning self-care rituals. I try to make sure that my morning routine is filled with things that bring me joy and soothe my senses. In my shower I have a rejuvenating body wash that wakes me up – it has grapefruit oil which promotes love of our bodies. I use soft towels that make me feel cozy. If I find I am particularly stressed, I add a drop or two of Lavender or Cedarwood oil to my shower as well.

Setting an intention for the day can be quite powerful. You can select a crystal you are called to for that day and use it’s focus as your own. For example, if you are called to Rose Quartz, love may be your focus for the day. You could also select a specific essential oil and apply that with your moisturizer or a few drops in your hair or clothes. The smell would then anchor you to the properties connected with that oil. For example, if you are called to Neroli, your focus could be on divine connection and loving relationships.

During My Day

As the day starts and things ramp up, whenever I am feeling my breathing speeding up or if I am starting to feel tense, I take a few slow deep breaths and turn my attention from the running dialogue in my mind, to my environment. If my attention were a video camera, I turn it away from myself and the monologue my brain is rattling off to what is around me.

If I can, I like to take a break midday and just take a few minutes to just be. I have a grounding essential oil blend that I love to keep handy and I take a few inhalations with it as I bring my energy down to my feet.

End of Day

I have a habit with my 5 year old where at the end of the day I ask her what parts of her day she wished were better and what were the highlights of her day. She loves to go through things and we explore how she views her world.

Taking time when you are in a relaxed state to reflect can help you process the lessons from the day. For my own reflections, I may diffuse some Vetiver oil to help me prepare for rest while I do this. Right before bed, I like to do another visualization where I get into my high vibe state and allow that love and bliss to shine out as far as I can extend it. I give thanks for the day I experienced and all of the things I have to be grateful for.

As you can see, just a few simple steps can help you to set up your day, so you feel in control and in the flow of things.

These are so simple, but so powerful. Set the goal of doing these for a month and I know you will be amazed at the changes that will occur in that time.

In warmth
Lisa