I Love Mondays #28: Have a Good Day

We’re inching closer to spring in the northern hemisphere, but the cold days are still hanging around. It can be a little too easy to fall into depression in these hibernation times. But with a little focus and determination, we can feel good regardless of our circumstances or the weather. These are some tools we use to feel great and have a good day.

Physical

1. Just decide to get up and have a good day!
A friend visited several weeks ago and shared this deceptively simple insight from his sister. It really stuck with us and has been resonating through our daily lives ever since. If you want to have a good day, you have to start the day with that expectation. You have to give the day what you want it to give you. Begin tomorrow with enthusiasm and notice how you feel throughout the day. What will you feel like?

When you first wake up, finish the sentence with your desired emotion: "I decide to have a good day and feel ____________."

Mental

2. Count!
One of the easiest ways to fall into the Big Sadness is by letting our thoughts run wild. Left unchecked, the mind will spiral into worst-case scenarios and woe-is-me patterns. But never fear, counting is here! Silent counting is a practice we have cultivated since 2011. Just count in your head until you get to 10,000 and we promise you will feel amazing! The best way to go about it is to start counting AS SOON as you wake up. Try to count to 100 while you brush your teeth. Then take a few minutes to count to 2000 before breakfast. Keep tacking on 1000s throughout your day. The counting will clear your mind and give you an energy boost. Your natural state is one of well being, and only your thoughts can make you feel bad. When you count, you get distance from your thoughts and allow the flow of well being to rush back through you.

Use the diamond grid to sharpen your focus. Count each shape by filling with marks, numbers, or color.

Emotional

3. EFT
Sometimes I get stuck in the trap of thinking that “If I don’t change this behavior, I can never have a good day!” That’s conditional love! If I use some EFT to love myself despite my shortcomings, I end up having a much better day. Even though I feel greedy and have escapist tendencies, I still totally and completely love and accept myself exactly the way I am! Whatever criticism you have of yourself that’s holding you back from having a good day, do a little EFT on it. You can even skip the tapping. Just think to yourself, “Even though __________, I still totally and completely love and accept and forgive myself. I’ve let that shit go!” If you want to get more into EFT, try Tapping with Brad to learn the technique.

Fill in the sentence with a self-critical thought: "Even though I ____________, I still totally and completely love and accept myself exactly the way I am! I've let that shit go!"

Spiritual

4. Thank you
After you decide to have a good day, do some counting and some EFT, have a seat to meditate. While you meditate, focus on gratitude. Whether you’re practicing feeling thankful for what you already have, or trying a little gratitude in advance (where you feel gratitude for what you know is on the way), a gratitude practice will seal the deal on you having an amazing day! Shift your focus from what is lacking to what is abundant, and you will remember why you love your life the way it is right now!

List things you're grateful for, and have a great day!