INSPIRE
A multitude of moments come together to constitute a day. And, to be certain, they are all important. But the bookends, the start and end of a day, have a special ability to shape what ends up being our life.
The great news is that these are also the two times of day we often have the most ability to construct, free from the unexpected that easily seeps into the rest of our waking moments.
Want to start your day in a way that is a springboard for possibility? Frame it with a set of questions that help clarify and visualize how you’d most like the day to unfold.
What about a winddown routine that closes the inevitable stress loops that open up throughout your day?
REFLECT
Before we get into these routines, know that the point isn’t to be perfect.
In Meditations for Mortals, Oliver Burkeman compares our reality to being in a kayak rather than the illusion we’d prefer of captaining a yacht. We would all like to be comfortably navigating our days from a leather chair with sophisticated tools helping predict what is to come. Human life, however, is always messy, rough, and unpredictable, and regardless of our systems, we never execute perfectly.
Embracing the lack of control we actually have in our day and instead focusing on steering our kayak over the next few feet is all we can hope for in a successful day.
I’m not only continually tweaking my morning and evening routines, I ebb and flow as to how consistent I am with them. Below is a countless iteration of the process I’ve found helpful over the years for embracing and steering my kayak.
I shared a past iteration of these questions in 7 Powerful Questions to Ask Yourself Each Day and you may notice these themes are still present throughout.
Daily Bookend Reflection Questions
Your morning and evening routines do not need to take much time. Spending only a few minutes centering yourself and setting your intentions for the day can reap great rewards.
I like to use a journal to reflect on these daily questions. They help ground me in gratitude, humility, and purpose while fostering the powerful practice of visualization.
The morning questions take me a bit longer on purpose. I have more focus and energy in the morning and am ready to set my day up in the best possible way.
My one evening question is great feedback for my day and forces me to end in a positive mindset. Because in each day, however challenging, there is a celebration, however small. And pausing to spend even a few moments savoring is worth it and pays dividends in helping close the stress loops of the day.
Additionally, in the evening, I do a quick self-assessment using questions I’ve developed to measure my current goals. Stay tuned for a post sharing this powerful process.
Weekly Reflection Questions
Then, once a week (typically on Sundays), I add in these questions to help me cast a longer vision. Keeping in mind that I’m only steering my kayak day by day, I still want some time to reflect on accomplishments and set the stage for living out my core values. (see 5 Steps to Getting Clear on Your Personal Core Values)
AMPLIFY
As you navigate each day, let intentional reflections guide your actions and help to amplify your purpose. By aligning daily choices with aspirations, you can create a life of growth, fulfillment, and joy.
Remember to pause and ask yourself, ‘Is what I’m doing today bringing me closer to where I want to be tomorrow?’
With that clarity, every step you take becomes a step toward your best self.
What questions do you find helpful with intentional reflections? Connect and let me know because together, we are brilliant.
