Middle-Pause Pump-Priming Prompt

How Do You Start and End Your Days — or Would Like To?

A little heartfelt mindfulness goes a long way

If you would have asked me this question two weeks ago, my answer would be very different than it is right now.

But I recently stumbled on a morning practice that’s making a huge difference in how my whole day unfolds and most importantly me in.

But until June 21, I would get up and jump right on my PC and start promoting yesterday’s post. On Facebook, and on my publication (Humor! Authenticity! Magic!)’s newsletter. And once or twice a week on Middle-Pause’s newsletter.

This before showering, teeth brushing, or praying.

Rightly or wrongly, starting my day with Medium seemed to be synonymous with starting my day.

Not only that, there was an obsessive-compulsive aspect to it I can’t explain or account for. Often the urgency was to get ‘er done before a Zoom call or class. But my energy would be driven until that happened.

So what’s new now?

I’m taking a class on Automatic Writing from author~teacher, Mike Dooley and speaker~coach, Michael Sandler.

When I signed up, I did not realize it was about a specific practice designed to get us in touch with our angels or spirit guides at the beginning or end of our days.

I assumed it was a chance to explore timed free-writing exercises, on topics of our choice.

Nope. The topic is preselected — connecting with Source or Sources that speak to us from the invisible realm and see a bigger picture than our everyday selves do. Think of it as tapping into our Higher Self if that works for you.

So here’s the drill–I mean practice. Mike and Michael encourage us to tweak it as needed to make it work for us.

We start with simple breathing meditation, ten in and ten out, being mindful as we count. If you lose track, start over at number one.

Then put on inspiring music. Theta brain wave music if it resonates with you. On headphones if possible. I prefer the enchanting medieval music of Hildegard of Bingen, available on YouTube.

Next, we write an opening invocation to call in our guides. Something along the lines of:

Thank you, God, for guiding me with your love and light. Thank you, God, for surrounding me with your love and light Thank you, God, for protecting me with your love and light Thank you, God, for imbuing me with your love and light. Thank you, God, thank you, God, thank you, God.

Now God doesn’t have to be ‘God.’ Whatever name we use for our Higher Power or Higher Self is fine. It only has to be meaningful to us, no one else.

When we say good morning to the guides or angels we’re calling in to get wisdom from. This is open-ended. I call on my favorite aunt and uncle who’ve passed as well as a generic call for angels and spirit guides to inform me.

And a Presence I call She Who Shouts or Whispers, Depending. Yep, that’s Her name. But sometimes they answer as ‘We,’ so go figure.

We get to ask our guide or guides anything we like.

But I started with the suggestions from Mike and Michael: What do I need to know for today? Who am I? And what is my single-minded purpose?

Then we start writing. Before we’re even fully awake. Before coffee and email, etc. That time as soon as possible after waking or as close to falling asleep as possible is best. Because we’re in an alpha brain wave state, we’re open to receiving wisdom in a right-brain, non-cerebral way.

Pen and notebook are recommended for the kinesthetic connection. But fingers and keyboard are fine, too.

Words can barely tell you what a difference this makes in my life.

Rather than lie in bed stressing out about all I have to do, or all I didn’t get done, I get up and get to this practice.

We’ve had lots of musician changes and challenges at church. My job is to find replacements. When I was stressed about that, my guides told me to relax into trust. Reach out but then let go and see who responds.

I did. And not one but two vocalists said yes to next Sunday! I was amazed. They weren’t just willing to do it, they wanted to do it!

Thank you, thank you, thank you! Gratitude is the best response to such abundance. And begets more blessings for us to pay forward.

Already this practice is helping me shift from expecting the worst to happen to being open to better possibilities. To feel like the Universe has my back. Encouraging me to embrace and live from joy.

And wasn’t it just National Joy Day?

I end my day reading, often spiritually uplifting books. Which is a wide swarth for me. I find books about writing spiritually uplifting for example. And great novels.

But I also review my day and make a mental gratitude list. Ten things. At least. With the intention of waking up grateful. But even if I don’t, my new practice gets me there quickly.

That’s me, how about you?

Here’s the Middle-Pause Pump-Priming Prompt: How do you start and end your days–or would like to?

No matter how you actually start or end your day, describing how you’d like to is a good way to get you moving towards that vision. Baby steps are fine. In fact, often the best way to make lasting changes.

This just in: Middle-Pause is now accepting short-form stories. This might be a handy way to respond to your favorite prompt!

So here’s your chance. short or Long. Go for it! We look forward to hearing from you.

Marilyn Flower’s the author of Creative Blogging: Ninja Writers Guide to Character Development and Bucket Listers, Get Your Brave On. Clowning and improvisation strengthen her resolve during these crazy times. Follow her Sacred Foolishness and Stay in touch!