Article by Judy Mosley

Note from Judy - This article was born out of necessity. Already, most of this morning has had no direction and time has been wasted on useless activities! This is the advice I have given to myself in the hopes of redirecting the day. It’s good to know that I can always learn from my mistakes and that can make any day better…

What are the things that make up a great day?  Is it good weather?  Is it the mood that we wake up to?  Does it depend on the behavior of others, or on the tasks that must be completed?  Are good days born only from external circumstances or do we have our own part to play?  Great questions.

Thankfully, our hearts and attitudes don’t always have to be swayed by the forces around us.  There are intentional steps that we can take, decisions that we can make, to better ensure that a good day is ahead of us.

In other words, we can have a good day, no matter might happen in the midst of it …

Set Your Intentions

What is it that you want for this day?  What do you really want to happen?  Do you want a better attitude?  A cleaner house?  Do you only need to get a few things done to be satisfied with today?

Be clear and precise about what you want.  Make your goals simple and realistic.  If you have multiple children, having a spotless house may not be realistic.  Or, if you have a personal goal in mind, like keeping your temper in check, understand that life will not give you smooth experiences to help you meet your goal, but opportunities to put your goal into practice.

Avoid Time Wasters

These are things that may not seem like they are taking up much time, but can strip you of the time you need.  TV, the internet, texting, and multiple products can consume your mind but more than likely, won’t help you to meet a certain goal or support any intentions that you have made for the day. Try to engage in these activities only if there is nothing else that is calling for your attention.  Better yet … agree that you are only going to use the internet, personal email or watch TV at one specific period of time each day … after all, what good does it do you to constantly check your personal email throughout the day?  

Be Flexible/Listen to Your Instincts

Some days, things do not go in the way we intended them to.  If something interrupts your schedule, don’t let that affect the outcome of the rest of the day.  Or, if you feel your instincts pulling you into a different direction, follow them.  Most likely, your day might end up even better than you expected because you followed your heart instead of a list that you might have made.

Give Yourself Time to Eat and Connect

Take time to eat.  Sit down.  Spend some time in silence or connect with someone who is near you. Too often, we rush through a meal or we may skip a meal altogether, thinking that we can get more done that way.  But how we feel later in the day is as important as how we feel now … and can affect the results of the entire day.  So take care of yourself. 

And also … eat good food.  Make it as real as possible by using natural ingredients. Remember, if you can’t pronounce it, it’s probably not that good for you.

Take Time for Yourself

Make sure to do one thing, each day, that helps you grow as a person.  This doesn’t have to take much time or even cost any money.  Go for a walk and use the time to think, read a chapter of a book, sit outside or doodle on a piece of paper … Even taking five minutes on a current project can help you feel like you’ve accomplished something, even if you didn’t finish it.  Find something that will make you feel good about after you have spent time on it.  Remind yourself that you are important, too.

Sometimes, we need to define for ourselves what makes up a good day.  We don’t need others to set the tone for us.  And here’s one last bit of advice … many times what feels uncomfortable turns out to be good … simply because of the outcome.  So remember to be flexible and listen to your heart.  That can make every day a wonderful day.

“An inexhaustible good nature is one of the most precious gifts of heaven, spreading itself like oil over the troubled sea of thought, and keeping the mind smooth and equable in the roughest weather.”

-Washington Irving  

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