Happiness is not a matter of intensity but of balance and order and rhythm and harmony. - Thomas Merton
Waking up early to allow myself time to align my body, mind and spirit with my morning practice is the greatest gift that costs nothing. This small amount of time management reinforces my ability to optimize my energies and to approach being how I wish to be in the world. In the words of Robin Sharma it is matter of mind over mattress.
Home and work are connected. My morning practice of journaling, Qi Gong and Mindfulness Meditation is what sets my day up to have balance and order; and ensures my sense of rhythm and harmony. As I have mentioned in class, during my 9-5 work years, I had a morning practice, would leave my home in great shape and then get lost in the challenges of work. The pressure, people, problems and projects would overwhelm my energy. My emotions would surge and lessen my performance, thus compounding both energy and time constraints. Anxiety, impatience and even fear would engage a cycle of less than productive habits energies and day by day the pressure mounted. This is why I had to learn to bring mindfulness into my work space.
Morning practice is where I learn about myself, cultivate calm, insight; and transform my habit energies. The serenity generated provides a balanced lens to reflect on thoughts and actions. Pausing at work allows me glimpses and further opportunities, but without the energy cultivated in morning practice, I may have too little to work with.
During my practice I cultivate groundedness. I work on my balance and flexibility. Then I am as free as possible for the coming hours of work and life. My negative habit energies may overrun me again and again; but each day I devote myself to morning practice those habits are weakened. I water positive seeds in my heart and mind. I awaken my spirit. I establish the possible here and now knowing, that the roots of my ability to be mindful at work is watered by my morning practice.
Photo by amrufm