Daily Habits
Daily habits are what will set you up for success. They help to create structure when you are feeling a little out of control and will grant you a sense of clarity.
Firstly, ask yourself how badly you want to change out of ten.
What will be the end result if you don’t change?
How will my life change if I stop?
These are crucial things to establish in your mind. You see, to quit, you really have to want to. When you make the commitment to quit, you will need positive daily habits to support you, otherwise you are just white knuckling it. There is no joy in that and you will just feel like you’re missing out.
Daily Gratitude Practice
Gratitude is proven to make you happier, to put you in to a positive mindset and can even reduce pain levels. Write a list of everything you are grateful for either at the start or end of each day (which ever you feel like you can commit to. It doesn’t matter either way, just be consistent). They do not have to be big things, even it if is just for the air in your lungs, a sunny day or the wonder of electricity.
Being grateful for the less obvious things will build your gratitude muscles. Eventually, the aim is to take little moments out of the day where you can cultivate a sense of joy and gratitude for no reason at all. This is where the magic happens.
Spiritual Input
This is the most essential part of the journey. I don’t care who it is but find yourself a spiritual teach or dare I say it “guru” that you can listen to or read each day on podcasts, audio books or YouTube clips. Mine was Wayne Dyer, but there are so many amazing people and you can mix it up. Tony Robbins, Eckhart Tolle, Gabrielle Burstein, The Dalai Lama; the list is endless. Just tap in to at least 20 minutes of reading or listening per day that is positive and will help you to expand and grow. The opposite of growth is atrophy and we don’t want that.
Get Moving
Move your body each day. Get off the couch, turn off Netflix and get your body moving. We all know the endless benefits of exercise, so I don’t need to go on about that. Start with a 20 minute walk per day and build up to at least an hour at least 5 days a week. Trust me, you will feel amazing. I like to incorporate my spiritual learning in my walks or runs, listening to one of said teachers as I go. It’s like a double whammy of goodness.
Change Your Mindset
Positive affirmations work wonders. The more you tell yourself you are a winner the more you will believe it. Every word you say or every thought you think, remember that your subconscious is listening and believes everything it hears. So, start telling yourself how amazing you are. How well you are doing and how you are a happy, confident, worthy sober person.
We dive deeper into daily habits in the HIQA Playbook. Pick up your copy here.