DISCIPLINE MONTH: DAY 29: “Do first what you don’t want to do most.” ― Clifford Cohen
This is a great practice. When I was new, I heard several things with this theme: “Act as if; Take contrary action;” and several others.
But I know that the rest of my day will be great if I do the things I don’t want to first thing in the morning. This is funny, because I wake up most mornings with the purple screaming monkeys in my brain telling me to go back to sleep. So, I read for a couple of minutes and then I write my gratitude letter and then I move on to a journal practice and meditation.
When I get out of my bed, I do a few things; feed the screaming cats (no, they are not purple), and make my bed, tidy the living room and kitchen and do 20-30 minutes of yoga before I start anything else. This keeps me balanced and happy. I love being balanced and happy!
Today it is easy for these things to be part of my life. I don’t work in the mornings. But I have in the past and still sometimes must go somewhere at an early hour. So, I get up in time for these things. I also have breakfast, no matter what, read my emails and do this writing.
There is just a flow to my life when I do these things. I have several other practices that are incorporated into my days, but these things are the foundation of my mornings. I feel better, emotionally, physically and spiritually for these practices.
And nearly every single morning, my brain tells me NOT to do them. That I need more sleep, to get up right away, that I am late for (something)??? But I have learned to ignore the monkeys and do what works best for me. I feel a stronger sense of self-worth and self-esteem in my life because I know these are the most important things in my day.
How do I know that? Like any other resistant and defiant addict, I have tried skipping some or all of them and my days get all out of whack. I don’t feel grounded or centered or balanced at all.
So, I do what I do, including the evening 10th step readings, working with others, calling a sponsor, and keeping my diet healthy, hiking and working out, and some other things that have proven to be good sources of healing and well-being over the years.
None of this is particularly challenging or invasive on my time. On the contrary, I find that I have more time and more energy than most people, because I am not sluggish or tired very often. On those days that I am, these might be my minimal practices, but they are done nonetheless. I might leave out physical practices when I am sick, but others remain.
I have enjoyed finding the disciplines that I practice over these years. They have trained me and made me into the woman I most hoped I would become when this all started. I am happy, healthy, and enjoying myself more than I ever thought possible. Jane Fonda reported that she was surprised in her older years that she was so happy, because she wasn’t happy when she was young. I feel the same way. I am not totally pleased with my life in all areas, but I am happy to be alive today and content with all of it to this point.
The greatest part is, I cannot wait to see what is coming next! If it is something icky, I will do that first and move through it into the parts I really love; which are, oddly, those things I fight off the most!
Dolphin Hug 