Talk to yourself first thing in the morning

For most people, their phone screen welcomes them to a new day with an option to either stop or snooze the alarm. The alarm is the first in the queue of apps vying for attention in the morning.

Obviously, every social media app is set to deliver the first dose of dopamine for the day with unread messages and notifications. If dopamine doesn’t work, there’s always coffee- the world’s most popular and legal psychoactive substance.

Mornings jumpstarted on chemicals!

Is there a better alternative?

More than an alternative, it is about scheduling. I’m not proposing not checking notifications on the phone or ditching drinking a cup of coffee. They should ideally succeed another activity:

talking to oneself.

We are constantly seeking stimulation of the five senses and everything external tends to govern our ideas and frame of mind. What if there is a hidden intelligence that has processed our likes and dislikes and has arrived at what we really want and more importantly who we are as a person?

This intelligence has a voice and it speaks the language of our true self. Unfortunately, the stimuli perceived by the five senses drown this voice and operate like a loudspeaker.

Every day when we wake up, we are provided with an opportunity to listen to this voice — which can be the compass for life.

The reason journaling is popular among morning routines is that they facilitate a conversation with oneself. Journaling helps in talking to oneself and actually figuring out what’s deep within oneself.

Meditation- another popular morning ritual may seem like the process of quieting the mind, but it is actually a form of conversation with oneself.

Listening to oneself to be precise.

When someone is meditative, their awareness tends to be focussed and it opens a window of opportunity for deep-seated thoughts to unravel. Some of these thoughts contain important insights and can help in leading a better life.

The truth of the matter is that you always know the right thing to do. The hard part is doing it. — Norman Schwarzkopf, Jr.

Our inner voice already knows what the right thing is. It is just a matter of listening and executing. This inner voice is nothing but an audio format of the handbook that can direct us in a way we truly desire; it would be a shame to not listen.

Thank you for reading!