9 Morning Practices That Will Transform Your Day And Spirit

There are several morning practices that we can follow for a spiritually joyful day. But to start with, we must understand what spirituality is. Spirituality is the science of the spirit. It is about realizing the truth and living as who we are, the Divine Soul. While Enlightenment, awakening to the truth, is the ultimate spiritual goal and very few people attain it, anyone can follow certain practices to add peace and spiritual joy to their lives. 

Here are some practices that we can incorporate into our morning routine:

• Practice being in silence, meditation and mindfulness. Meditation is to still the mind, to kill the mind. The mind jumps from thought to thought like a monkey jumps from branch to branch. We have to make it silent. We must distance ourselves from the mind. We must observe the mind. When we observe the mind, the mind becomes conscious and stops its monkey business. When we transcend the mind, we are in a state of mindfulness or Consciousness where we experience peace.

• Begin your day with prayer. We must connect with the Divine. We must communicate with the Supreme Immortal Power we call God. Prayer gives us strength, hope and positivity. Belief, trust and faith in God can fill our lives with happiness.

• Practice Asanas and Pranayama. Broadly referred to as Yoga, Asanas or exercises and Pranayama or breathing techniques contribute to our overall sense of well-being. Of course, Yoga is much more than this — Yoga means to be in union with God but nonetheless, Asanas and Pranayama are great self-care practices. The body is a temple of God, and it is important to look after it.

• When we wake up, many of us instinctively reach out for our cell phones. We must break this habit. Instead of reading depressing news or scrolling on social media, we can begin our day by reading spiritual texts or inspirational material and contemplate the spiritual insights or wisdom we gain.

• Connect with nature. Nature is therapeutic. It heals. It is a good practice to go for a walk in a park. To be in the midst of flowers and trees. Watch the sunrise. See the birds in the sky. Soak in the magnificence of nature which is nothing but a manifestation of the Divine.

• Make a vow to be joyful. Tell yourself, ‘I will choose to be happy today. Though the skies are cloudy and grey. No matter what people say. I will choose to be happy today!’ Start your day with Positive Energy that has power and do away with Negative Energy that is poison.

• Practice gratitude. Be grateful for another morning, another sunrise, another day. Be grateful for all your blessings. When you count your blessings, you realize how much you actually have. You live with fulfillment and contentment.

• Do something good. Do good Karma. Be kind. Make someone happy. Treat people you meet with reverence knowing that we are all manifestations of the Divine. Help someone in need, any living being. Each being is a manifestation of the Divine. 

• Eat simple yet nourishing food. Eat fresh, whole and unprocessed foods. Some people stick to a Sattvic food which helps promote mental clarity, physical health and spiritual well-being.

By incorporating these morning rituals into our daily routine, we can set ourselves up for a spiritually joyful day!

(AiR Atman in Ravi – Happiness Ambassador and Spiritual Leader)