BUILDING A MINDSET
Mindset is key – as our thinking defines our lives. We have a choice to be happy, to be successful, to be in control of our bodies, what we put in them and how we direct our energies. Our decisions and actions, spring forward from our mind state. Our hormones and health are all dependent on how we think. Negative thoughts will attract negative outcomes. Good thoughts will attract positive ones.
Positive Thought, Positive Action, Positive Life
The only truth, are the beliefs that we have, hold on to and follow to be true. Belief drives everything. That's why it's important to believe in something meaningful. If beliefs connect through to family, about having good friends, finding love, having a worthwhile job or enough money to enjoy life – the projection of these positive life-enriching attachments, originating in the mind – will manifest into reality. Attraction is the result of following our belief.
Our mindset is defined by what we experience, what we allow to enter the senses and how we interpret the information. Therefore, if we pollute our minds with poor quality information, we become influenced by negative imprints, which are the residue left remaining after the senses have absorbed the information. Like the saying, 'we are what we eat', the same is true about what information we allow in to the mind – we form and become what we believe.
Mind Filters
Watching violence in films, on TV, reading doom-saying newspapers, gossip mags, surrounding ourselves with negative influences – allowing disturbing imagery, people and situations to infiltrate our lives – this is how we accumulate negative energy and consequently develop a poor mindset. All information we surround ourselves with, including the people and conversations we partake in, will have an affect on our mindset.
If we can start the day on the right footing, we can influence our decisions and make considered choices right up until the time we sleep, which is the quality time we have to recharge our energies for the following day. This is why the most important times of the day are the moments after waking and the period just before going to sleep. If we can be more conscious of the content we absorb around these times, the chances of us influencing the rest of our day with a positive mind-state, will increase significantly.
When we wake in the morning, we have just a a few glorious minutes while the conscious mind is quietened, free from clutter and open to positive suggestion.
The first moments should be a quiet connection to the body, with a gentle waking of the joints, preparation of the endocrine/nervous systems and the senses ready for the day. There's two blissful exercises for pretty much all levels of fitness, which we can easily do, to physically set us up for the day ahead, plus a tonic to be drunk and some positive affirmations with breath work for all-round health benefits.
1. Tibetan Gymnastics
This gentle waking up of the endocrine system takes a mere 5 minutes. It should be carried out shortly after waking and before taking on any solid or fluid refreshments. I usually enliven my mouth with a small sip or gargle of cool water and take a bathroom interlude, then before the sleep has left my eyes, lay down on my back to carry out the exercises.
2. Health Tonic
After the gymnastics, take a glass of chilled water – infused with lemon juice or enlivened with a healing stone and sip it mindfully. Following that, make a turmeric tonic for increased health. Infuse more lemon juice with a teaspoon of turmeric, a tablespoon of cold press vegetable oil and quarter of a teaspoon of pepper.
Charging the water with positive energy can be achieved with crystals. Keeping the water in the fridge and topping up every time you drink, ensures there's always some refreshing tonic to hand, even if there's not been time for any of the other morning routines.
3. Qi Gong
The next exercise, will tone the lungs, get the blood pumping through the legs and arms and set the mind focussed and calm. There are many exercises to choose from, but the 10 minute morning set by Lee Holden, is perfect for setting up the day.
4. Breathwork
We can survive for weeks without food, days without water but mere minutes without breath. So much of our energy comes from breath. Deep breathing, can help restore tiredness, improve circulation, fitness and if done properly, reduce anxiety and depression. Standing with the legs slightly wider than hip width, back straight and neck long, raise the arms up to the sides with the palms splayed and fingers pointing forwards. Ground yourself into the floor (bare feet best). As a reference, visualise Leonardo's Vitruvian man. Essentially, we want to make ourselves as big as we can, to take on as much energy as possible. Now take some deep breaths counting to 6 on the inhale and exhale, engaging the glottis at the back of the throat to really feel each slow and considered breath.
Affirmations
After charging ourselves with tonics and breathwork, speaking affirmations out loud – with true conviction (really believe the words as they are spoken) – will help to cement the positive mindset in place for the rest of the day. Choose two mantras each day (they don't need to change daily) and repeat each 3 times, focussing on the breath in and out, with powerful vocalisation of the words at every breath pause.
If there's a lot of stress and major upsets in life at this time, take an extra 15 minutes for yourself, to think about one of the happiest moments in life. Visualise the moment and re-live it over and over in your mind. The more lucid the thoughts, the more powerful the exercise will be to bring about a positive mindset where there may have been a negative one.
Gratitude
Before going to sleep, finish off the day with some gratitude affirmations. Be thankful for good health, love from family, friends and partners, a roof over your head, a full belly and the time to be in the moment – aware of the good fortune you have.
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