I was recently challenged to set daily intentions each morning. To which I shared… I have… many times. I just can’t say they manifested. I intend to get the house cleaned up. I intend to organize the junk drawer. (Seriously… everyone has one of these right? How is it my kitchen has three… “mail/coupon and instructions junk,” “junk, note paper & pens,” “extra screws & manly junk”?) I intend to be nice to everyone I come in contact with… even that grumpy friend tailing me on the way to work.
However, after a few days of getting up 10 minutes early to set these intentions, I decide that hitting the snooze button is an easier intention… and one I can keep on a daily basis. So…. as I do with every challenge that is thrown my way… I over think it. I try to find someone to give me the easy answer while trying to understand the neurobiology of why intention setting works. Well… leave it to Jay Shetty to give me the answers I didn’t even know I was looking for.
According to neurobiology, some ancient yogis, a bunch of monks… and, of course, sweet Jay… the morning is not just the start of your day, it’s the start of your body’s operating system. “What runs in those first minutes doesn’t just affect your mood, it architecturally shapes how your brain will process every single event, conversation and decision for the next 16 hours”, according to, my close friend – even though he may not know it yet, Jay.
Ever wake up thinking about the unfinished business from yesterday… the bag that has to be returned to TJ Max but is still sitting in your car because you were too tired to stop on the way home… or the odd question that your boss asked you as you were walking out of the office last night and you are trying to figure out what it meant… or maybe just the fact that you are out of strawberry jam and little Bobby won’t eat grape on his PB&J and you have nothing else to pack for lunch? Well…. that’s because these little problems that haven’t been solved, or tasks that haven’t been completed, are like an open loop in your operating system. Your brain doesn’t like open loops…. so it immediately brings them to the front of your attention so that you can close them and make your brain happy. … or something really scientific like that.
Once those thoughts hit your brain in the first few minutes, they set the tone for the day. You are already behind the 8-ball… and I’ve truly never understood that. Don’t you want to be behind the 8-ball? Or maybe not… maybe it means that you have to hit the 8-ball with the cue ball to get to your ball. I mean, that’s not too bad as long as you can avoid the pockets on the table. Obviously, I’m no pool shark… but… oh, sorry… I digress….
Anywho… Jay highlights 7 things you need to tell your conscious mind as soon as you wake up. In an effort to be more intentional… and yes… I now realize I was being challenged with the how I show up… not the what gets accomplished…. I am going to try to implement these things into my morning wake up routine.
- I Am Awake Before My Problems – Am I though? It usually takes me a couple cups of coffee… but okay… we’ll give it the ol’ college try.
- I Am Not Yesterday – Obviously. I am also not tomorrow. But that has never stopped me from overthinking both.
- Today I Direct My Attention – That one is just plain lofty.. let’s be real.
- I Wont Try to Solve Problems That Haven’t Happened Yet – I feel like we should refer back to #2.
- My Body Isn’t a Vehicle For My Head – I’m super confused
- I Focus on What Matters Most, Not What Feels Urgent – Ooo! Ooo! I like this one. However, I really suck at it.
- I Measure Today by Who I Am, Not Just What I Achieve – Now that’s deep.
So… here we go. I am going to start digging into these 7 concepts and see if I can’t help my operating system operate a little bit better. Wish me luck as I try to implement these 7 concepts into my morning routine. I will obviously need to listen to this podcast a few more (hundred) times.
In case you want to learn more about open loops, setting intentional ways of being…. or just listen to Jay’s amazing accent, go to where you listen to your podcasts, find Jay Shetty, and click on 7 Things to Tell Yourself Every Morning (April 3). Or you can continue to follow me for updates… but I make no promises. I am no Jay Shetty… or a Buddhist Monk – even though they FASCINATE me. But that’s a whole separate blog post……