Mornings can be rough. Mornings with 4 kids can be rougher. I’ve always had the practice of getting up before my kids in the morning to get myself ready for the day. My mornings just go much better if I do. But it wasn’t until I read a book when my mornings really started to change. This is how I transformed my mornings and then my days.
I love to read. But I really mostly love to read historical fiction books. Self-help books? No thanks. But when I heard about this book called The Miracle Morning by Hal Elrod, I was intrigued. And it has literally transformed my mornings. But how, you ask?? With just a few simple steps each day, I am more prepared to face my day and start it off on the right foot.
The concept is to get up earlier than you normally do. Make the sacrifice to get started on the right foot. Take a little extra time to start your day positively so you’re in the right mindset for the rest of the day. The book gives an acronym of SAVERS to follow each morning. By practicing these steps first thing, you have a clear mind and a jumpstart on the day.
S- Silence
A- Affirmations
V- Visualization
E- Exercise
R- Reading
S- Scribing
I have taken those steps and adapted them to fit into my schedule and preference. This is how my Miracle Morning looks:
Exercise- I just take 10-15 minutes each morning to do some basic strength training exercise. I do sit ups, push-ups, planks, squats, lounges. Easy exercise to get my blood flowing and my body working.
Silence- I start my Miracle Morning off with prayer. I believe in God and I start my day by praying to Him. I thank Him for my blessings, tell Him my concerns, and ask Him for help.
Affirmations- I have compiled a paragraph of sentences that describe what kind of person I want to be, what goals I want to achieve, and what dreams I want to make. By repeating this over and over, out loud or in my head, I am giving my thoughts positive affirming words that I want to live by. When you think positively, you act positively. When you verbalize your thoughts and dreams, they are more likely to be at the forefront of your mind and you are more likely to achieve them.
Visualization- I sat down and made a list of what I want for my future. What kind of home and neighborhood I want to live in, What I want for myself and my family. What goals and dreams I want to achieve. I take a few minutes each morning to sit and visualize those dreams. By picturing what I want my future to look like, I can see what I need to do to get there. Not only am I thinking about what I want, but I can actually picture it. Visualizing works hand in hand with affirmations. When you think and picture and dream big, you can. You need to have positive thoughts. You need to have constant reminders of what you want if you want to achieve it.
Reading- This is when I read my scriptures for the day. I take a few minutes to sit and read a chapter in the Book of Mormon. I always have a goal to read it every day and by doing it first thing in the morning, I especially like to read the scriptures along with a lesson manual, so I can learn more as I read. I start my day off so much better by doing this!
Scribing- I take just a few minutes to write what I am thankful for that day. To be honest, I was rocking this for a while. But, this step is one that is often left out when I’m in a rush. But you don’t have to take a lot of time to write a few thoughts down about your gratitude or jot down a few things about your day.
And that’s it. These steps can take me 30-60 minutes to complete each morning if I’m not in a rush. But, if I don’t have a lot of time, then I can zoom through and get it done much quicker. But my mornings and days go so much better when I take the time to get up early and dedicate some quiet time to myself. It clears my mind, it brings my life peace, and it makes me happier. That is how I transformed my mornings and you can too!
