Why I Say This Every Morning
Every morning, as a part of my morning routine, I read and experience the phrase, “It’s going to be a great day.” It’s the first item on my Day One journaling template.
Even if I’m anticipating a tough day, I read it and take a moment to feel some joy and happiness. Often, I’ll smile, even though there’s no one there to see me smile. I do it for myself. After smiling, I’ll typically note a few activities I have planned for the day that will make it great.
It’s Not Magic. It’s Mindset and Intention
I don’t mean this in some Pollyanna or New Age way. This is not one of those woo-woo practices where I “send out my desire into the universe” and somehow expect the universe to manipulate people and events to provide what I want. I think that’s baloney.
Instead, I see this phrase as a statement of my intention for the day. It’s not a guarantee but often is a self-fulfilling statement. It starts me out in the right frame of mind and with a positive attitude. Since I started using this phrase months ago, I have seen a real difference in my mood, productivity, and resilience. Even if negative events occur, it helps me choose to respond to them positively. It makes a difference.
As Buddhist monk Haemin Sunim wrote, “We can decide what kind of universe we would like to live in. Buddhism teaches that each individual experiences an entirely different kind of universe based on that person’s state of mind.” When Things Don’t Go Your Way: Zen Wisdom for Difficult Times. While I do not deny that bad things happen, I choose to start each day with a positive mindset; that is the kind of universe I want to live in.
Inspired by Tiny Habits
I first encountered this phrase in a book about habits as a way to start the morning. Tiny Habits, The Small Changes That Change Everything, by JB Fogg, is an excellent book about how to establish and grow habits, all based on Fogg’s extensive research.
For me, it’s the most practical and helpful book I’ve found on habits, even more so than the popular Atomic Habits by James Clear.
AI Note: I wrote this blog post myself, using my own words for the initial draft. I used AI only to suggest headlines, section headings, and improvements to the text.
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