{ PREMIER ISSUE 2018 } KHARISMA MAGAZINE
27 a successful entrepreneur, businessperson, artist, writer, or parent, take a few minutes and think about how you should define success on your terms— not based on what society thinks you should do. One effective approach is to practice rituals that will help you raise your game.
But what about the“ ritual” part of the equation? If you are like some people, the word ritual may have a negative connotation.
If you look it up on Dictionary. com, the first definition is this:“ An established or prescribed procedure for a religious or other rite.”
The problem is that we typically think of it in a religious sense. I am not using it in this sense, though for me, even then it has a positive connotation.
I define ritual as“ a prescribed procedure for achieving a specific result.” In other words, it’ s kind of like a recipe. An early morning ritual can do the same thing for your productivity and the effectiveness. It won’ t guarantee your results, but it will set you up for the possibility of success.
By the way, the truth is that you ALREADY have a ritual. Rituals are inescapable. The only question is whether you are intentional about your early morning ritual and whether your ritual is producing the results you want in your life.
Anyone can design a more successful day by following these eight rituals: RITUAL # 1: PRAYER & MEDITATION RITUAL # 2: PRACTICE OF GRATITUDE RITUAL # 3: JOURNALING RITUAL # 4: EXERCISE & WORKOUT RITUAL # 5: EATING HEALTHY RITUAL # 6: DRINKING WATER WITH LEMON RITUAL # 7: READING AND LEARNING FROM OTHER
THOUGHT LEADERS AND EXPERTS RITUAL # 8: THE IMPORTANCE OF MAKING YOUR BED
RITUAL 1. Prayer & Meditation
“ To understand the immeasurable, the mind must be extraordinarily quiet, still.”
~ Jiddu Krishnamurti
We should be quiet in order to listen. We always talk and God has no chance to respond. So the prayer is the talking, the demand; and meditation is the listening. Most people just keep praying constantly or always make noise or always talk, and God has no chance to tell them what to do. No wonder their prayers are unanswered. God has no opportunity.
Meditation is the practice of shifting our mind’ s awareness from normal activity of the mind. During this normal state, our mind is engaged in analyzing, observing, judging, deciding and accomplishing. With meditation, you can shift the focus and experience a more calm, peaceful and silent state.
Benefits of Meditation
• Lower blood pressure
• Better sleep
• Less anxiety
• Faster healing
• Decreased use of drugs, alcohol, and cigarettes
• Lower cholesterol
• Stronger immune response
Setting the Foundation
• The best time to meditate is early in the morning upon rising and in the evening before going to bed.
• Start off your meditation practice with 5 to 15 minute periods per day.
• Use your Luxe Cove or space of your own where an environment of quiet and peace is present.
• Unplug from any distractions, such as the TV, phone, computer or other distractions.
• You can incorporate calm, soothing music if it does not break your ability to concentrate. Refer to Meditating with Music for a list of music options.
• Meditating outside under a tree, at the beach or a quiet place can also bring calm and inner peace.
Meditating with Music Meditating with music can be a very soothing experience. Simply listen to it with your undivided attention. This will engage and flood your body, mind and emotions with the vibrational qualities of the music. In meditating with music, the focus is the music. You can sit or lie down, close your eyes with the music playing softly in the background. To enhance the experience, you can use headphones as this intensifies the experience.
My favourite music options are from Sonicaid. This music is scientifically designed with a special focus on emotional and intellectual response and social psychological connections by Dr. Lee Bartel.
Now that you understand the practice of meditation, you will need to make a conscious effort to establish meditation as part of your lifestyle. Also, note what time in the morning and evening you will meditate.
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