Waking up Thoughts

[Senin]

I once had an aunt who would be a real powerhouse. Wake up, do this, do that, always had a project going. Not to say she was a perfect saint. But always busy doing.

I was just thinking, I wonder what she woke up thinking. Sometimes I wake up thinking, where's my coffee and newspaper.

I never saw her down, even battling cancer. I was wondering, what do people like that wake up thinking-- attitude, thoughts, perspective. Why does one person crawl into a cup of coffee and another totally take on the day? Must be specific thoughts.

Sure wish I could ask her, too late now. But it would be powerful to know.

[Love]

Interesting question. I never wondered what other people think about when they wake up, but now that you pose the question, I wonder...

I woke up thinking that I wanted to do exercise. (I've been trying to get into shape). I also thought that I should check my journal and see if any questions I had had been answered.

Those were my morning thoughts!

[Ilya]

When I wake up, I don't really think anything very positive or inspirational. First of all I write down my dreams. Then I just start going with my morning routine, starting with the bathroom, you know. By the time I see myself in the mirror, my mind starts going through my current state. I check my weight and body fat, check for any pain or stiffness in the body. I have a rather intensive morning routine, so there is not really much time to contemplate. It is when I'm eating my breakfast I go through my task list and choose the things to do today. It all starts from there.

Your description of your aunt got me wondering, why do you think her morning thoughts were special. Many people are busy all day long. Many of them do it out of year-long habit. My grandmother was like this. She was a housewife most of her life and she had to be busy all day long just to do laundry, cook food, iron, clean the house etc. Even when she was old. she followed the same routine. There was actually no need for her to do it anymore, but she couldn't stop. I respected her as a person, but her busyness made me somewhat sad - even at the dawn of her life he just couldn't stop and enjoy the well deserved rest.

[Senin]

I guess that was my point--- you become your habits. If you wake up, pissed at the world because you want to sleep more, that is what you become. If you wake up, ready to take on the day, that is what you become. I just think it is interesting because it is the first conscious thoughts of the day and obviously sets your bearing for your day.... which then becomes your life. Attitude.

[Ilya]

The ugly bit is that by mid twenties the habits start to solidify and work on a non-thinking level. You think about something and your habit is going along the tracks in the background. And then you end up in a place you didn't intend at all.
I have to make conscious effort to check on my habits and make sure they are doing what I want them to do.

[Iff]

Originally Posted by Senin

I guess that was my point--- you become your habits. If you wake up, pissed at the world because you want to sleep more, that is what you become. If you wake up, ready to take on the day, that is what you become. I just think it is interesting because it is the first conscious thoughts of the day and obviously sets your bearing for your day.... which then becomes your life. Attitude.

You couldn't be more correct here. I can't really remember where I came across this principle first, but the first thing you have to do when trying to lead a successful life (and it works for waking up early, too) is to look forward to each day so you just can't wait until you can get up from bed and continue on whatever endeavour you have planned for the day. If this principle is followed, there is pretty much no need for additional motivation or a push of some sort to get things started. You just flow through the day like you don't want to be doing anything else.

I actually want to thank you for creating that thread. When I first saw the title, I realised that I had forgotten all about looking forward to the next day, looking forward to getting busy. Right now I either think "why can't I sleep some more" when I have to get up early or "why did I have to sleep so much" when I get up late. No wonder I have little energy during the course of the day when sleep is all I think about.

[Ree]

This is a great thread and it caused me to think about my first thoughts of the day. I usually wake up with at least one and sometimes several Things To Do in mind. If I have time, I always exercise first thing. If my schedule doesn't allow time for exercise, then I move right into my first Thing To Do.

I fully expect each day to be a great day. My attitude is total wonder at what great event could be just around the corner! When my phone rings or the fax rings or the mailman comes, I expect great things! If it doesn't happen that day, I do not despair! I carry that expectation over into the next day! Even when seemingly "bad" things happen, I have learned that these can be blessings in disguise.

This is how I start each day, how I spend each day and how I end each day.

[nightdiamond]

"Just for today I will........." for some reason that seems to work, your mind seems to really take it seriously when you say that in the morning while still in bed.

I think it's because you give yourself permission to do it for just one day only, though you can keep repeating it every day....

[JeffS]

Those of you who have mentioned the importance of habits are right on the money. When I get up, I don't think there's much going on in my brain, or at least not the same kind of thing that directs me to certain tasks a little later on.

So, I usually follow a set routine ... and 45 minutes later, when I'm more awake, I'm a bit ticked a myself for spending that time reading emails, blogs, etc.

What I've tried lately is finding a task or two that requires very little thought, just sitting there doing it. In my case right now, it's formatting files for a book I'm working on. Incredibly drudgery, but it has to be done...by me. If I start in on that, by the time I'm more 'with it,' I feel like I've accomplished something and I have some momentum going. I get to the email eventually, but rather than waking up doing something passive, I'm waking up while doing something active, which sets a great tone for the day.

[MadHyeNa]

My morning routine:

I wake up exactly at the same time every morning without an alarm clock. My mind is conditioned to do that so. Furthemore, it does not rely stricly on batteries nor on any source of electricity.

As soon as I open my eyes, I close them again and start to visualize, rehearse my future-self. That is, my idealized future sometime around 2017 which implies and includes all of my long-term goals. Obviously, I involve all of my 5 senses and emerge myself in that completely. I do this for a relatively short amount of time, say, 2-3 minutes, definitely not more. It is enough to go past a whole day that I'd do in 2017.

(I do this aforementioned scenario because on each morning the subconscious mind is more alert and sensitive to self-conditioning because it slowly transitions from low alpha brainwaves up to the waking betas.)

As soon as I am done with my quick little mental imaginary, I literally jump out of my bed and do my morning 5 minute exercising. That's quick but freaking intense. Pushups, the plank, other abs variation exercises, etc. I do without any sort of breaks around 20 reps of each. But I do them so quickly then after those 5 minutes regardless of my circumstances and other factors I feel myself really energized and full of power.

(And the morning quick workout session is not an alternative to my normal workout sessions.)

I then proceed to the bathroom and the morning routine continues with usual activities.

Oh, and I was called once as a fanatic because of my "jump-out-of-bed and quick-morning-exercise-routine" by a girl that also extended her sentence with something along these lines: "I knew that you're active and rushing in testosterone but this I wasn't expecting to see; I am quite flattered." And then, after those my quick morning routine was done, I could spend some time with her, again.

Once I condition myself with something, and proceed to live by my own rules, there are no exceptions. Ever. It's my integrity that I am taking care of. Even though, it certainly looks like everybody appreciates to see this kind of determination in this 21th century.

[John Hill]

Just like waking up to a decent breakfast, it is essential to wake with the right mindset to get the most out of your day and your life. In every area of your life you are what you think about.

John

Attracting People.com

[pinky]

Great thread. It has inspired me to start my day be reading/writing my grateful lists from my gratitude journal.