Rather than a New Year’s Resolution for 2019, why not create a powerful new morning ritual to start every day in the New Year in a better way.

Merriam Webster defines ritual as an “act or series of acts regularly repeated in a set precise manner”. Rituals are habits and practices that can be used to anchor us spiritually and emotionally, bring deeper meaning and insight into our lives, and to prepare us mentally to deal with life’s daily ups and downs.

There’s no perfect ritual only that whatever you do it needs to work for you. Here are the four practices that form my powerful morning ritual and that I will continue throughout 2019.

My Powerful Morning Ritual

• Meditation
• Journaling
• Exercise
• Learning

To get started I made a commitment to myself to get up 30 minutes earlier. Yes, sleep is precious, but so are the hours in our day. I made a tradeoff. And wow, what a difference. So much so, that I’ve been getting up 1 and ½ hours earlier than I used to. It only took about a month to adjust. And yes, I go to bed earlier to make sure I get enough sleep because my body and brain need it to function well.

During my morning routine, I eliminate all distractions. No phone. Just a quiet space.

Meditation

This is a great way to settle into your own ‘being-ness’ to prepare for the day.

For example, I do a meditation to ground myself and tune into how I’m feeling – physically, mentally, and emotionally.

Often I’ll do a simple mindful meditation on the breath to focus my awareness. It’s my way of taking inventory of my ‘state of being’ and helps me bring my mind and body in sync. I find it to be very calming, yet vitalizing too.

I’ve also used a couple of popular meditation apps (Headspace and Omvana) as well. Give these a try if you are new to meditation or even if you are an experienced practitioner as well.

Journaling

This is a great way to bring the heart and mind into alignment and for daily self-direction.

I use it to express what I’m grateful for in my life, things and people I appreciate, declaring affirmations, and setting intentions for my day.

Simply take the old-fashioned pen to paper approach or use an app if you prefer a digital version. (I use Penzu. Another app is Day One. There are a variety of apps on the market.) Whatever works for you.

Although I allow the thoughts to flow, I make sure I am very deliberate in my focus when I write in my journal. I don’t allow negative thoughts in, only positive. We are what we think and you only want to manifest good things.

For example, take a few minutes to jot down what you are grateful for. This is a great way to acknowledge the blessings in your life and work. It helps me shift my focus to a state of “abundance” rather a state of “lack” because what we think and focus on shapes our reality.

Consider what you appreciate about others or things in your life and work. I use it as an opportunity to acknowledge the efforts of others, and to focus on the positive aspects of my life versus the negative.

Take some time to affirm who you are and what you believe in. I look for things that have meaning and heart for me, or behaviors and thought patterns to work on cultivating more of, such as being flexible to changes or unexpected events in my day.

Use the journaling time as an internal compass to solidify your intentions. Think about the 3 or 4 most important things you want to focus on that day – personal or work.

Setting intentions by writing them down helps me be more conscious of what is most important. Hopefully with less distraction, while being mindful of the need for being resilient when the day doesn’t go as I planned.

Remember to allow your thoughts to be positive rather than admonishing. No “should have this” or “should have that”. Journaling is a great way to not only be reflective but also proactive and purposeful in what you want to create in your life.

Exercise

This is ideal to activate the “happy chemicals” in the brain like serotonin and dopamine.

Some form of light physical activity in the morning is generally good for everyone. Take a short walk or hike, do some yoga or just stretching. When combined with the first two activities of grounding and journaling, a light exercise routine uplifts my mood and makes me feel happier.

For me, light exercise lets me ease into my day. I’ll do a gentle style of yoga or stretching. I save the harder core gym work-out for later in the morning because of the time and intensity required.

Learning

This is a great way to prime and pump the brain.

I usually read a chapter or two from a variety of books that focus on self-improvement or read a post or two from some of my favorite bloggers/writers. If I’m short on time, I’ll listen to a podcast when I’m at the gym later in the morning to get my learning activity in.

Sometimes I watch a short video on YouTube. Do some research. Or if I’m taking an e-course, I’ll do a module or two as time permits. It’s a great way to jump-start my brain.

Alternatively, you may have some sort of creative outlet that you could incorporate during this time. Maybe you’re an artist, you like to draw or have other creative interests that you could fit into this early morning time.

Bonus Tip: Start each day with a success.

For me, I strive to always make my bed and wash up the breakfast dishes!

I remind myself that we are the “totality of our daily habits”.

In my experience, how I start my day affects how I feel about life, my success, and overall well-being.

Rather than a New Year’s resolution for 2019, think about how you can adapt or incorporate habits and practices for a powerful new morning ritual to start every day in a better way.

What would you like to change? Take the time to explore and experiment. Start slowly as I did. Do what feels right for you and give yourself time to allow a ritual to settle in.

Feel free to change the ritual from time to time. This year I’ll be adding a longer segment for meditation. I find that going into the silence strengthens the connection with my Higher Self ensuring balance, harmony, growth, and daily insight into life’s challenges and opportunities.

What is essential is that you incorporate activities into a morning ritual that best prepare you to be more heart-centered, energized, focused, inspired, and productive for the day.

Give it a try. Start the New Year with a powerful new morning ritual. You’ll be amazed at the results.

Winter Solstice 2018 occurs at 5:23 p.m. EST on Friday, December 21 in the Northern Hemisphere. In this hemisphere, it has the longest hours of darkness signifying the rebirth of the sun and is perceived as a powerful time for renewal, regeneration, and personal reflection.

The Winter Solstice has been observed by many cultures for eons with different rituals to celebrate its significance. For me, Winter Solstice is a magical time of year that symbolizes the divine essence within each of us, and is a time to go within, honor, and connect with our true nature to further unfold our own individual awakening.

A time for self-reflection, I take the opportunity to review the past year, express gratitude and appreciation for friends and family, and all the things I unintentionally take for granted in life.

Not only just a time to reflect but to look deep within. It’s an opportunity to focus on what’s important in our life and let go of old patterns or habits that no longer work for us. That opens the space to create new habits, priorities, and intentions for the coming year, and make changes that support our growth.

Below are a few rituals I use to celebrate the Solstice. Adapt these to suit your personal needs or come up with your own.

Meditate and Journal.

Set up space in a favorite or sacred area of your home. Perhaps you have a room or special area set aside just for you. Light a candle, turn off the lights, burn some incense, turn on soft music.

Set up a display or altar of your favorite things – crystals, stones, fresh fruit or vegetables, herbs, nuts, or just something from nature such as pine cones or acorns. Whatever feels right.

Anything with bright colors of yellow, orange, and red work well to signify the rebirth of the sun and this time of year.

Take a pen to paper and write out all the things or habits that no longer serve you and that you want to let go of.

Place the paper in a bowl or small cauldron and light a match to burn them and recite to yourself that “I release all these things that no longer serve me.”

Then release the ashes outside symbolizing you’re letting go.

Take some time to think about and write in your journal what’s important to you in the coming year – your priorities and intentions.

Take a warm bath with your favorite bath oils.

Try lavender, rosemary, and sage or whatever your favorite is. Light a candle, burn some incense, turn on soft music.

As you relax in the warm bath. Imagine yourself being cleansed of all the patterns or habits that no longer serve you and that you want to let go of.

Breathe deeply and release each pattern or habit with the out-breath.

Close your eyes and chant one of your favorite affirmations imagining your own inner light radiating and lighting up the room and world around you.

Gather with family or friends for a celebration dinner.

This year we are celebrating virtually over Skype with some dear friends in Texas. It has become a tradition for us and a great way to have a casual dinner with those closest to you, sharing laughter and joy during this special time.

We light candles, set a festive table, and prepare one of our favorite meals with a delicious bottle of wine.

This year, take the time to acknowledge the divine within you. Use it to raise your vibration and cultivate love, compassion, joy, and happiness. Use it to open your heart and rise up to all of your unseen potential as a human being.

Let the light within you spark and shine bright signifying the birth of a new sun within you.

Love and Light!