This short video below is meant to make you smile and also to teach you a few steps of a short morning meditation to help you get yourself into the right state of mind when you can be your best and feel the best you can feel.

Remember, when you are setting the morning, you are setting the day.

1. As you wake up, before you even open your eyes, try to remember your dreams. Whatever snippets come to mind, jot them down. Dreams reflect subconscious processes. These images may explain what you need to do to achieve change, or how close you are to a breakthrough.
2. Drink a big glass of water, especially if you also drink coffee or tea. You already knew that, but didn’t always remember to do it, right?
3. When you brush your teeth, do it with the opposite hand. Doing so helps to exercise your brain, so both, your mind and your body have a chance to wake up.
4. When you take a shower, finish with a rush of cold water. This will strengthen your immune system, invigorate your body, and put your brain into a super state.
5. Meditate. When you get into the habit of short and frequent breathing meditation breaks, you become very efficient at controlling your state. It only takes a minute or two to take a few deep breaths into your heart, and to concentrate on something or someone you are grateful for right now. It could be your pet, child, friend, plants, or even your favorite place. Keep breathing into your heart, concentrating on that positive feeling. Now think of a couple of goals you would like to achieve today, while maintaining this feeling of gratitude and appreciation.  Open your eyes with a smile. You are now ready to have a wonderful morning and a great day.

This meditation can be done as you are still laying in bed. Do it whenever it works for you. You can do it as soon as you wake up, or when you sit down to drink your first cup of tea or coffee, or both.  The most important thing to know is that when you focus on positive thoughts and feelings, your mind tunes into receiving more and more of positive messages, reinforcing your initial input. Whenever you notice your thoughts or feelings straying away from neutral, take a deep exhale. Empty the mind by concentrating on your breath. As you inhale, count to four, as you exhale, count to eight, making sure that your exhale is twice is long. This creates space for more neutral or positive feelings and thoughts that you now CHOOSE to invite into your life. Now, find something you can feel grateful about right this moment. It can be anything as small as a whiff of lilacs outside, or knowing that you have a reliable car, and shelter and access to food, or maybe that you have a new outfit that fits you well. Nothing is too small to be grateful for. Stick to this feeling for a few minutes as your keep breathing through it. Notice the change. Allow yourself to smile. You look beautiful when you do. That’s right!