One Important Ingredient For A Fulfilling Day

Summary

Adding the act of caring for birds and plants to one's morning routine can significantly enhance well-being and reduce stress, contributing to a fulfilling day.

Abstract

The article emphasizes the importance of incorporating care for living beings other than oneself into the morning routine to improve mental health and overall happiness. It suggests that taking responsibility for feeding birds and tending to plants not only benefits these creatures but also triggers a 'Helper's High' in the caregiver, a form of euphoria associated with charitable acts. This practice, supported by research, is shown to lower stress and anxiety levels, with the added benefit of fostering a sense of calm and satisfaction that can last throughout the day. The author shares personal experiences of how these activities have positively impacted their mood and recommends that readers try this approach to transform stress into positive emotions and maintain a joyful and confident outlook.

Opinions

The author believes that traditional morning advice, such as drinking water and exercising, is incomplete without the inclusion of caring for others.
They express that self-care is crucial but should be complemented by caring for the environment and its inhabitants.
The article conveys that the act of feeding birds and gardening, although not traditionally seen as charitable, can produce a natural high similar to that experienced from altruistic deeds.
It is suggested that the positive response from birds and plants to one's care can lead to a chemical reaction in the mind and body, enhancing one's mood.
The author cites studies to support the claim that interacting with nature, specifically caring for birds and plants, can have a significant positive impact on mental health.
The author encourages readers to prioritize acts of compassion in their morning routine for a deeper sense of joy and fulfillment.

Add Care to Your Morning Routine!

There is so much advice on what you should do when you first wake up in the morning. But most people miss out on a very important thing!

To have the best day ever, you need to have as much as possible working for you. So follow all the advice you have been getting and add this special sauce that has helped me feel good and energized every day. This one addition to your morning routine will give you a feel-good high and something to look back at and smile. And best of all, it takes less than 20 minutes.

You’ve heard it all before. Every morning you should - Drink water because it is healthy Journal to clarify your thoughts Meditate to balance your mind Exercise to stay fit Practice gratitude to feel lucky Have coffee for some great smell and a kickstart Get some sunlight to feel good and get some vitamin D Listen to music to wake you up Stretch to wake your body up

Yes, all the advice is about making that time in the day to care about yourself. Caring about yourself is essential. And all these things will help you start your day off well. But this leaves out one of the ways to feel really good.

My son left home for a month and left me with three responsibilities while he was away. Feed his sourdough bread starter once a week, feed the birds on our two balconies every morning, and water his plants — some only in the morning and some twice a day.

I took my responsibilities seriously and watched to make sure that the birds ate well, and the plants flourished.

It wasn’t easy. In the beginning, the birds were scared and didn’t flock in like they used to. One day there was a fight when one of the larger birds didn’t allow the others to feed. Some times the sun was sharp, and the mustard plant looked like it would wilt. The legume plant which had given seed became brown and died.

In time, the number of birds increased. They waited every morning for my arrival and excitedly hopped and flapped when I opened the door. They seemed to love the variations in the food that I gave them. A few new small birds came exploring and have stayed around. And all of them appeared less scared of me. I sprouted some new seeds and replanted the saplings in pots carefully.

Now, every morning after I put the food out, I sit and watch while the birds greedily eat and push each other for space. The bold ones, the timid ones, and the games they play. I spread the food around a larger area so more eat without competing. I experiment with the food and the location to see what makes them happier.

And I get happier. Much happier and with a sense of calm that lasts. I noticed this shift in mood and researched the same. Studies (Cox, D. 2017, Brock et al 2015) show an inverse correlation between the number of birds people could see outside their homes and their stress and anxiety levels. They suggest that seeing larger numbers of birds in your garden in the morning could lower depression chances and make us feel happier! Gardening, too, has a positive impact on our hormones, especially when you see flowers bloom and seeds develop (Dalimer et al 2012, Keninger, 2013).

This feeling is called a Helper’s High (Dossey, L. 2018, Rudd, M. Aaker, J. 2014) and is a euphoria that happens when you do charitable deeds. Even though feeding birds and gardening is not strictly charity, the psychological theory is that giving, caring, and being kind produces a mild natural version of a morphine high! Whenever you think positively and receive a positive response, there is a corresponding chemical reaction in your mind and body as a result.

“The purpose of human life is to serve and to show compassion and the will to help others,” Albert Schweitzer.

Try it! Take some time out in the morning to be compassionate towards OTHERS. Birds, plants. Create a bird feeding area or use your balcony like me. Grow some micro-greens or vegetables. Make sure you take the time out to watch their response. This will give you immediate satisfaction and help you transform any stress into a more positive emotion.

Extend some powerful care to those beings in your daily environment that joyfully persist in doing their best without being able to voice their needs or pain.

So look after yourself, yes! Eat well, sleep well, exercise regularly, meditate.

But don’t forget to prioritize taking some time out to show love and care to something or someone else. Enjoy the response you receive. Your Helpers High will give you deep confidence and joy that will last and keep you smiling throughout the day.

Let us create more positivity in simple ways!