How to Create the Perfect Routine for Daily Inspiration

“You need to learn how to select your thoughts just the same way you select your clothes every day. This is a power you can cultivate. If you want to control things in your life so bad, work on the mind. That’s the only thing you should be trying to control.” — Elizabeth Gilbert

While you may find it tough to feel inspired each day, it’s far from impossible. In fact, all it takes is some routine, discipline and consistency to build a daily life that yields results and happiness. I find that the evening and early morning hours are great for planning and refocusing our priorities. Some of my best ideas, as well as my most productive planning and actions have taken place in the early morning hours.

In fact, the majority of the writing that I did for my first book, The Value of You, occurred during the wintertime. It was a special time I’ll never forget.

In this vein, I urge you to develop an inspirational routine each morning. It may come through the power of meditation, prayer, genuine heartfelt interaction with those that you love or from your favorite song. It could be a video that plays back the piano recital you played to perfection that brought the house down.

It may be the words of this article or a book you find so profound and hold in such high esteem, you get the chills before opening the pages.

Develop your routine. I’ll show you what works for me and how you can integrate this into your life. Here we go:

Here’s How to Develop Your Routine

“Great are they who see that spiritual is stronger than any material force — that thoughts rule the world.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson

Make your routine an every day thing. As I’ve climbed the mountain of productivity over the past several years, I realize that I never want to come down. The ascension — the journey — has been a magical ride and it reassures me that all of my progress toward self-actualization, as well as greater harmony and rhythm in living the life of my destiny has been worth the pain and occasional doubts. Start with these five things: 

1. Dedicate 10 minutes of contemplation time, ideally, at the beginning of each day. This sets the tone for your day and gets you feeling inspired

‍

2. Use this time alone in solitude, in a quiet place. Focus your thoughts on positive, stimulating thoughts such as: achieving a big goal, making a difference in someone's life and the love you have for family. There’s tremendous power that comes through dreaming and seeing yourself standing “in the winner’s circle.”

‍‍

3. Get these positive thoughts going and keep them going. Write down these thoughts that come to mind. Keep referring back to them throughout your work day or school day. Think of them when you’re out in the social world, during moments of difficulty or times of joy. Look at them again before you go to bed at night and reset your mind. Then rest and get read for the new day with excitement, anticipation and a clear mind for fresh, new thoughts.

‍‍

4/ Get up, walk around and recharge your battery. No matter how hard you’re willing to work or how disciplined you are, you will find that you need to recharge and reboot. The best way to do this is to change your setting by changing your perspective. Clear your mind, go run a quick errand, take a brief walk. Then, think about how excited you are to start again.

‍

5. Have high expectations for results, but make sure that your expectations match your attitude and effort. Trust me — this one is last for a reason. To avoid disappointment and letdowns (the exact opposite of sustaining inspiration!), don’t expect great things if you’re not willing to put in the time. Invest your time wisely. Focus, act with confidence and eliminate distractions. This is how you build momentum!

‍

Your Journey

Where are you on your journey? Are you struggling at the moment? Do you see the proverbial light at the end of the tunnel — the end-vision of your goal? And if you do, are you running into road blocks of creativity? What are your mental challenges? What are your emotional battles?

Perhaps your path is as open as the Pacific Coast Highway at sunset in Laguna Beach. Maybe it’s a Midtown Manhattan traffic jam. It’s all a state of mind. We need inspiration to help us create the beautiful landscapes of limitless possibility in our mind that serve as the foundation for our magical journeys.

You are the creator of your world. When you are safe in the knowledge that you control your worldly destiny, nothing will ever stop you. Those with a winning mindset are never denied. They inspire themselves to achieve great things.

The way to cultivate and build momentum — which you can then transform into empowered thought and constructive action is through inspiration — the power of “fire” that lifts your spirit and brings you unbridled enthusiasm. Be inspired everyday.

What has become truer for me by the day is the concept that we control our own destiny through the power of our thoughts. We emotionalize our ideas with the power of love, faith and hope. We take these thoughts and envision ourselves doing what we desire. And we put it into plan and take the action that we’ve dreamed of. It really is that simple. Do this and you will never be denied.

There is no shame in any idea, as long as you believe in it and feel it will add value to your life and the lives of others. Don’t concern yourself with the ingenuity of your idea. Your race, your cause is the one that speaks to the desires and dreams of your heart. That’s what makes you unique and special.

Be inspired. Enjoy this incredible time in your life and take some time for yourself to develop a routine that positions you for fulfillment and productivity. As St.Francis of Asisi once wrote, “Start by doing what’s necessary; then do what’s possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible.”

Join my newsletter for the best productivity, inspiration and emotional intelligence content on the Internet.

‍