The morning practice I can’t afford to skip

I have days when my mind gives way to anxiety and possible scenarios of distress dominate my imagination. I really can’t afford to stop my morning practice of reading the Psalms and setting my mind on who I belong to. From there, I take my anxious and roaming thoughts and push them down a path of what is good, lovely, and praiseworthy in my current situation.

Sometimes I need to focus on what I have done that is good and worthy of praise – that is when my thoughts are consumed by my own failings.

Other times, I recall specific, tiny things I have seen in one of my children who seem relentlessly tricky. Another morning, I will search out the benefits and protection I receive from my limiting circumstances. Every day, I need to practice turning my mind to the good and lovely in my life. Courage usually follows.

My morning practice is short and began with the tiniest of steps. There was no pressure, and I kept it easy.

Every good habit that feels hard can become possible with small steps. Here are a few things that have helped me:

1. Know why you want a habit to be part of your life, because habits will flow when they are built on your values and who you want to be.

2. Find an already existing routine to attach your new habit to; this provides an anchor that is already there.

3. Change one thing in your environment that will make your habit easier to repeat.

P.S. Let me know if you have tried and failed to have a “morning practice” – failure provides brilliant insights.

Warm regards,

Vanessa