What is life if it does not make you smile at least once in the morning? Happiness doesn’t need to be derived from big achievements. Happiness can be derived from the smallest and simplest of things.
Imagine having a bumpy start in the morning. You become grumpy, and your entire day is affected due to your rough morning. Now imagine how your entire day would go if you began it on a happy note. It is said that your morning routine lays out how the rest of your day is going to go. Thus, small morning gestures and routines can create the happiest of moments.
Dr. Bhavna Barmi, a well-renowned practicing clinical and organizational psychologist, says, “Morning habits help us re-energize, build focus and eliminate stress caused by the chaotic morning rush.”
Amy McManus, LMFT, relationship therapist and owner, Thrive Therapy, says, “It’s good to practice gratitude first thing in the morning before you even get out of bed. Just think of one thing that you are truly grateful for, and allow the feeling of gratitude to wash over your body. The trick is to totally immerse yourself in the feeling of gratitude for a couple of minutes. Close your eyes and be completely present in the experience. Even though this is a simple practice, it can have a significant effect on your mood for the rest of the day.”
Practicing gratitude and mindfulness are some of the recommended morning routines to create happiness. However, the major task is to take the first step towards happiness.
One of the easiest and most effective ways of creating happiness is through good morning questions. As said earlier, having a productive morning will help you in having a productive day filled with happiness.
Here are some good morning questions to create happiness.
1. What is the thing I am most grateful for?
Alicia Harper, an NYC Based Nutritionist, says, “Gratitude is especially important in the morning because it can set up your mental perspective for the whole day ahead.” Practicing gratitude in the morning can start a positive mental loop where you become grateful for other small things that you encounter throughout the day. Your bliss from success never lasts, neither does your misery from failure so just be grateful for everything.
Mornings are great for self-healing and self-evaluation. You may be someone who has become busy with the hustle and bustle of life. If you’ve not got the chance to stop and smell the roses, here is an opportunity for you to do so. Ask yourself, what are you most grateful for? What is it that makes you wake up in the morning? What is your purpose? You may have all the answers to your questions.
The more important thing is to start contemplating your life. This question will help you in understanding the reason why you work so hard all day. It will help you understand and appreciate the things you work so hard for.
2. What positive aspect am I going to focus on today?
One of the primary reasons we aren’t delighted and satisfied with life is that we focus on negative emotions more than positive ones.
A happy moment may give us some hours of happiness, but a negative incident may keep lingering. We tend to overlook the happy moments by focusing our energy on the negative ones. It is essential for us to focus our energy on the positive aspects of life rather than the negative ones.
Hilary Russo, The HIListically Speaking™ Health Coach, a Certified Holistic Health Coach and Certified Havening Techniques Practitioner of mental health, says, “The human brain is hardwired to focus on the negative. Our Amygdala loves to go into fight or flight mode. So, it’s up to us to nurture “Amy” and retrain the brain. Starting first thing in the morning before we even put our feet on the floor is a healthy and empowering way to begin. Ask yourself, “What’s new and good”?
Bring powerful tools and approaches into your life to guide you. Havening Techniques, a neuroscience-based approach, is one of them, and it has the ability to alter your thoughts, moods, and behaviors and pave the way for you to “Be kind to your mind.”
Ask yourself which are the things that trigger positive emotions within you. Each day in the morning, select one positive aspect that you will focus on today. It could be a positive emotion or a happy incident.
Robert Johnson, the founder of Sawinery, says, “When we look at ourselves in the mirror, oftentimes, all we see is how flawed we actually are, which is why it’s important that we also try to look at what good we can bring to the people around us instead. Being flawed doesn’t mean we cannot give something else to the people in our community.”
Whether it be a simple token or water to the homeless, it’s important that we try to look into our inner selves and how much we can contribute to the people around us.
A beautiful morning sets a mood for how you will perceive the whole day. It’s also an indicator of how productive you can be or how the rest of the day will turn out. Every morning is beautiful and is a reminder that no matter what happens, there is and will always be something to look out for.
“A positive and happy morning reflects a happy disposition and can increase the quality of your performance, may it be in your work or social life.”
3. How can I learn something new this morning?
Sean O’Brien, the Chief Marketing Officer, says, “every new day is a chance to start over.” Work on your goals by slowly building up to them. You may need to figure out how you can best serve yourself today. Remember, you never need to carry more than you can hold; just take one small step at a time.
Each day is a day filled with learning. Having a fixed routine inculcates habits like discipline, dedication, and consistency. However, you must ensure that your routine has scope for growth. Ask yourself, what is the one new thing you want to learn today? It may be something work-related, a new habit, or a new hobby. Through this new learning, you may want to add your personal or professional growth. However, ensure that it is something that you want to do.
4. What exercise should I perform this morning?
Exercise is one of the most effective ways of boosting happiness. Physical activity helps in destressing your body. You feel more relaxed and at ease. Exercising also helps in increasing your blood flow to the brain. This, in turn, helps you feel more energized to carry out the chores of the day. You do not require any fancy equipment to exercise in the morning. A 30-minute walk or 15-20 min meditation session every day is a good way to start your morning.
MarineLee Wills had some great tips on how to make 30 minutes effective. She says, “Block your first 30mins of your day for yourself, spend time journaling, meditating, and or moving your body. By blocking this time, you have a purpose to get out of bed at your chosen time, and you have a sense of achievement first thing which will stimulate our ‘success’ hormones Dopamine, Oxytocin, Serotonin, and Endorphin. These hormones give you optimism, energy, elevate your drive, leadership, and confidence. All of this for less than 30min a day!”
5. How does my schedule look like today?
Every morning, make sure that you are spending some time planning your day. Planning your day ahead helps you keep track of your daily activities. You can identify your top 5 priorities of the day and focus your attention more on them.
Amber Annette says, “I truly believe that everyone should have some space set aside in the morning for a little Q and A with the Universe. I call my time Coffee with the Universe. In this sacred time, I don’t just ask questions, but I also receive answers on what I most need to focus on for my day and what needs to shift in my life and business.”
Planning your day ahead also reduces procrastination. You feel less stressed and more relaxed. You will realize that you have more time in hand than you thought and use that time for yourself.
Kate Hutson, Executive Life Coach and founder of Shattered Glass Coaching, says, “When you wake up in the morning, ask yourself, “WHO do I want to be today?” Write it down, say it out loud, repeat it to yourself in the mirror. The answer will inevitably change from day to day.
Some days you might want to be a confident public speaker. During some days, you might want to be a compassionate listener. Some days you might want to be a focused worker, staying concentrated and on task throughout the day. The point of the question is to make a decision about the identity you will embrace that day.
Instead of letting the stress and chaos of the day take over your mood and identity, you get to proactively decide who you are going to be before anything else happens. I recommend writing it down each day and keeping it somewhere nearby. That way, if you start getting distracted throughout the course of the day, you can look back and be reminded of WHO you want to be that day.”
Milana Perepyolkina, an International Bestselling Author, suggests, “Happiness is following your soul’s purpose and creating the world around you with love and gratitude.”
Ask yourself:
- Do I feel connected to the Higher Power?
- How can I serve people today?
- What can I do to make this world a better place?
- What is my soul’s purpose?
- Is it that I really, REALLY like to do?
- What do I do with ease and with love?
- Is there anything that makes my heart “jump out” of my chest?
- What gives me butterflies in my stomach?
- If I could wish for anything, what would I wish for?
- If I had all the money in the world, how would I spend my free time?
Remember, until you find your soul’s purpose, you will feel restless. You will often feel an urge to go somewhere or to do something. After you answer these questions, you will learn that happiness is when you are in charge of living your passion and making dreams come true without hurting anyone or anything in the world.”
6. Is It Okay to Take a Break?
This question can best be answered by PM Kester, the host of How to Take a Break– “It’s morning. You drink a tall glass of water, take a few big stretches, repeat your affirmations and ask yourself this one important question: Can I take a break today? Asking yourself that question every morning ignites an awareness in your body to schedule in at least 15 minutes for yourself.
As long as you prioritize taking a break for yourself into your day. Another awesome thing about asking yourself, Can I take a break” every day – it gives you something to look forward to (unlocking all those good hormones and emotions!). When we have something to look forward to, it can lift our mood. Even in the midst of being overwhelmed, we can look down at our calendar and recognize there are 15 to 30 minutes scheduled to take a break for something that brings me joy!”
Conclusion:
These six questions will help you to create happiness in the simplest of ways. These questions are crafted keeping in mind happiness, mindfulness, self-healing, and self-growth. They say that it takes only 21 days to build a habit. Try asking yourself these good morning questions every day for 21 days. Take the 21-day challenge and see the results for yourself.
