Photo Courtesy of Foxpar4
The alarm goes off signaling the start to another day. What kind of day will it be? Do you decide that for yourself consciously, or do you let the annoying buzz or beep decide that for you? I have been under the weather this week, and I've been running myself ragged for work, so when my alarm went off this morning it was as if a bomb had exploded in my head! I had been so deeply asleep, for what seemed like the first time in days, and my very first reaction to that insanely loud beep was 'are you freaking kidding me?' If I had let that attitude continue, as I dragged myself out of bed, and through my morning routine, it would have been one crappy day. Instead I applied a technique that has been truly life changing for me. I decided that it was going to be a great day.
After that first initial shock of the alarm, before I even opened my eyes and began to move I changed my thoughts to 'It's going to be a great day. It's Friday and I've got so many exciting things ahead of me today, better get up and get ready to have a great day'. I won't lie to you and tell you that miraculously I stopped feeling ill and tired, but I did feel better emotionally, and that is what makes all the difference in life.
To keep this great start to my day going, I made sure to be cheerful to each person in my family, as I greeted them for the first time. This is a surefire way to make yourself feel better. It's the fake-it-till-you-make-it approach to emotional management. It's hard to stay in a bad mood if you are outwardly being cheerful and smiling. A nice side benefit is that you are spreading cheer to the people you love most, helping them to set the tone for their day as well.
As I made my way to work, I listened first to a new audio lesson that I was excited about, and, when that was over, I turned on my favorite tunes and sang a bit as I cruised down the highway. Once I got to work, I continued my cheerful hellos, and got smiles in return from almost everyone further reinforcing my good mood.
It is half past noon now in my part of the world, and my great day is moving along quite well. I'm about to close another big sale for the month (I've already hit my target and this will help me smash it to bits) and I've had a few laughs with my staff and clients. I still feel tired and my stomach is in severe rebellion, but there isn't much I can do to change that at the moment, so I'm just continuing on with my day. Sure, I could sit her and moan and feel miserable, but I can't think of a way that would serve me. I probably wouldn't be closing this big sale if I did that, and my staff would suffer as well. Nope, seems like the smarter thing is to smile my way through it, and when my great day is over I will settle down to a great long sleep!
One thing I will be changing is my alarm clock! For a while we had replaced it with Gracie's Mater alarm clock from Disney, and it was the kind that started out with a very soft beeping that gradually increased in volume and duration. It was a much more gentle way to wake up, and I really enjoyed using it. It broke and we went back to our old one that sounds like an air raid siren in hell, and I think that needs to hit the garage sale pile this weekend! If there is a better way to get off to a great start everyday, doesn't it make sense to use it?
If you have any recommendations on more peaceful alarm clock alternatives I would love to hear about them. Drop me a comment with the details!
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{ 9 comments… read them below or add one }
I only use the alarm function on my cell phone now, Melissa. There is one particular tone I love that is soft, yet loud enough to wake me up. It’s much more pleasant than waking up to the “RAHN-RAHN-RAHN” of the old alarm clock.
At the Women’s Leadership Conference that is kind of the philosophy the closing motivational speaker said we should follow and I even say it to my kids often. Always say it’s going to be a great day. If someone does something or something happens, you don’t care because you’re going to have a great day. As for the alarm clock, I wake up to the radio
OOOOOH! A Mater alarm clock? “Hello Santa Claus, I have a request!”
Lately, my son IS my alarm clock, as my summer job is a work-from-home deal I do at my own pace. (And I am a night owl.) But I keep the listener on to my son’s room, and he sometimes starts talking to himself and then I hear him shuffle around in his bed, grab Special Blankie (which I have been calling “Special B” for short), and thump-thump-thumps down the hall in his little socky feet.
There IS no better alarm clock. But that usually happens around 7:30 or 8:00, and I need to start getting up at six when school starts. (sigh)
I liked your “fake it till you make it” reference. I have used that phrase on my step-daughter many times. I have also told her that so often, when I wake up in the morning, I first think things like, “Well, my Dad is still dead, and that really sucks.” But then I think about how many people are depending on me each day (during the school year, it’s hundreds) and that my family doesn’t eat if I don’t get up and go to work. I also know how proud my father was of the work I do and how much he liked my school when he visited a few times. So I just put on that “get up and go” attitude and start my day. I’m SO faking it.
I would really like to get to that place where my alarm clock radio doesn’t make me say swear words when it comes on at least twice a week.
Aah! I just saw that it filled in with BufandO 00. Fixed it now! Whew.
Hi Melissa,
I can see that you are really sharing from your heart, this is a wonderful post! Really appreciate the work you are doing to contribute and share with others.
Henry
fellow STC member
http://www.myroyalway.com
That is such an important question because I don’t like the sound of my alarm, but I know that I would never get out of bed without it!
Thanks Melissa and do keep us posted if you find a better alternative!
Miss Gisele B.
Thanks for writing this.