I have the same thought most mornings, “Well, let’s see what today brings.” Like most people, I have some kind of expectation about what the day ahead holds for me. I run through the day in my mind’s eye.
I base my thoughts partly on what’s going on in my life, commitments I’ve made, who I’m going to see, what work needs doing, and even the weather plays a part in how I imagine my day turning out. Will it be a bath, bed and the electric blanket by 8pm? Or do I see myself sitting in a patch of evening sunshine with a good book and an ice lolly?
Weather aside, I usually picture my day through a lens of optimism. I hope for the best. But, like everyone else, there are parts of my day that don’t exactly fill me with joy. Motivating myself for work, making calls, answering emails. Cooking I enjoy ,tidying up afterwards not so much, and then there’s emptying the cat litter… It all falls under the heading of “life admin”, those necessary chores that, for most of us, aren’t optional. If we don’t do them, nobody will.
So while the structure of my day is fairly set, the tone of it is still mine to choose. I was driving to the gym the other morning when, out of habit, I caught myself saying, “Well, let’s see what today brings.” And as clearly as anything, another thought came straight back: “Let’s see what you bring to the day.”
In last month’s article, I spoke about making small decisions and how they add up. This feels very similar. There’s so much more within our control than we actually give ourselves credit for.
A diet isn’t just about what we eat; it’s also about what we feed our minds. We consume information all day long, through our phones, conversations, TV, and social media. The question is, is what we’re taking in nourishing us or draining us?
I refuse to believe half an hour of doom scrolling through the Internet before getting out of bed does anyone any good. The same goes for what we choose to read, watch, and engage with, the comments we make, and the people we spend time with, both online and in real life.
I’m at my best on days when I’ve achieved something, helped someone out, or had a proper laugh. That rarely happens by chance, I have to be active in making it so. Life feels a lot better when I’m part of it, not just watching it go by.
We can also choose to be kinder to ourselves by making life a little easier. Prepping meals, making sure clothes are clean and ready the night before, I know I use this example a lot, but honestly, it’s my number one tip for a stress-free start to any day.
These are simple things we have control over, but they have the power to completely change how we feel about the life we’re living.
It’s the difference between saying, “Ugh, Monday again,” and thinking, “Right, what can I bring to this Monday to make it better?” Who said Mondays have to be miserable anyway? Why not view it as a fresh day, and a new start to the week.
If you’re not sure where to start, choose a feeling you’d like to have that day, something that makes you feel good, like calm, energy, fun, kindness, or focus. Then try to carry that feeling with you through the day. You might think, “Today, I want to have a peaceful day,” or “Today, I want to have a fun day.” Of course, not every moment will match that feeling, but setting the tone helps guide how you approach things. Instead of being swept along by the day, you’re choosing how you want it to feel.
And that’s really what it’s about, focusing on what we can influence. The mood or feeling we choose to have, how we handle challenges, and how we approach the everyday stuff.
When we bring a bit more hope or curiosity to our day instead of getting caught up in what we can’t change, life starts to feel like it’s happening with us, not to us.
So maybe tomorrow morning, instead of wondering what the day will bring, try asking yourself: what can I bring to the day? You might be surprised at the difference it makes.
Shannon Humphrey is a First Aid for Mental Health Instructor. Find out more about her work at www.pathwaysforpositivity.com
Photo: Shutterstock
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