How do you begin your day? Many of us have morning rituals that help (or hurt) our productivity and peace of mind. Depending on your circumstances, you may not have a lot of time to focus on any rituals. You may not have the time to focus at all. You may be rushing off to work or getting the kids ready for school. But what if you did have the time for a little morning contemplation? If it’s possible (remember all things are possible if you believe) you may want to create a daily practice which was suggested by someone who lived long ago in what you may think of as less hectic than modern times. After all, our ancestors did not have as many outside influences on their time. Their world was smaller and quieter than ours but they had their own challenges to overcome.
Pope Saint Gregory I (c. 540 – 12 March 604), commonly known as Saint Gregory the Great, was a pope of the Catholic Church. You may be familiar with Gregorian chants from that era. Gregory the Great suggested a daily practice which he believed would help people to be more effective in life. He encouraged people to take a moment each morning to be mindful and to ask four questions of themselves.
- Where are you? In other words, what is the state of your life? How is your health; relationships; financial well-being?
- Where are you not? How do you relate to the perfect version of you? What is missing? What parts of your life need attention?
- Where have you been? Consider your spiritual progress and understanding based on your past life experiences. What have you learned about what you want and what you don’t want?
- Where will you be one day? Envision your heaven; your ideal self living your ideal life. Consider your future, for as Gregory explains, you will receive it if you want it.
When you take a moment to go within, you are better able to see what is affecting your life from the outside. In considering where you are in life, you are able to reinforce the positive aspects of your being. When considering where you are not, you are able to become aware of what is missing or less than what you want. Thinking about where you have been allows you to look back and see from a different perspective. It also allows you to feel gratitude for your experiences. It gives you strength and builds your confidence. Planning for the future is a way to have a little preview of life’s coming attractions. When you visualize what you want, you become emotionally connected to the positive outcome you anticipate. Visualization directs the power of your subconscious mind, your goal-achieving machine. You’re more likely to be successful.
Perhaps you don’t have the time to be mindful of these things every day. But maybe you could do it once a week or once or month. Or at least do it once!!! You’re worth the time and effort and it really could make a difference in your life.