Wake Up & Smell The Coffee

This week’s I Am Fab is going to be a short, sharp burst of inspiration – rather than the customary rambling affair – due to a far too fabulous birthday celebration yesterday. Give me a whiff of champagne and I’m party central, which is of course fun, but does leave one with slightly less enthusiasm for concentration the following day. However, inspiration struck in one of many fizz-fuelled conversations during the afternoon and evening of festivities, when the birthday girl asked a very interesting question: what’s the first thing you think of when you wake up in the morning?

Of course, our mindset in the earliest part of the day really sets the tone for how the rest of the day will unfold. If you kick off grouchy or stressed, no prizes for guessing the day can only get worse. If you make a conscious effort to focus on positive or peaceful thoughts, you’re laying the foundation for a calmer, happier experience throughout the day.

If you’re a regular reader, you’ll have already surmised that meditation is the first cab off the rank for me in the morning – that and recalling any fragments of dreams that are still lurking about in a sleepy morning mind. It’s always useful to pay attention to what’s going on in your dreams, not only because it’s one way that your subconscious helps you to solve problems or bring to conscious awareness issues that are troubling you, but also because some of our best and clearest intuitive messages can come through dreams.

So, here’s the deal: this week, take the first five minutes of every day to notice what’s going on in your night life by remembering your dreams and writing down any that seem significant. If you don’t do this almost immediately upon waking, you’ll find that the memory of the dream will slip away. The more you do this, the more you will learn your own personal language of dream symbolism, making it a powerful channel for intuitive messages and personal awareness.

Secondly, notice your mood and make a conscious effort to either enhance a naturally good mood or uplift yourself from grumpy grouch mode. One easy way to do this is to pick three things to concentrate on: think about someone that you’re grateful to have in your life; imagine doing something you’ve always wanted to do; and, finally plan a treat – however small – that you’re committed to giving yourself that day. That should get your thoughts on an upward spiral!

If you’re so inclined, go for gold and get in a mini-meditation, by simply focusing on your breath and clearing your mind. Every time thoughts arise, return your focus to your breath. Don’t try too hard, just notice when you’ve become distracted without getting hung up on it. The aim of the game is peacefulness, not perfection. Give yourself the gift of stillness and it’ll pay dividends you cannot yet imagine.

Have a fabulous week and notice what a difference even small changes like these can make.

Click through to the Coach Fabulous advice column by using the link in the Favourite Sites section on the right or by going to http://coachfabulous.blogspot.com. For alert emails on new postings, email subscribe@iamfabulous.co.uk. To contact me, email coachfabulous@iamfabulous.co.uk. All material © 2007 Alison Porter. No article may be reproduced in full or in part without the express permission of the author. (Originally posted 2 Oct 07)