How do you wake up in the morning? Are you mentally alert, raring to go, ready to leap out of bed? Do you open your eyes looking forward to the day ahead, or is yours perhaps a more lack-lustre, pedestrian, or even sluggish awakening? There’s a way to put more pep into your life, and it doesn’t necessarily have to come out of a bottle or a packet.
● Start from the “inside-out”.
Finding the sparkling energy that gets you up out of bed and carries you effortlessly through the day, starts with what you’re thinking about when you first open your eyes. Rather than taking the “outside –in” approach – that is, trying to energize the body, people have found success by energizing their thoughts. Educational psychologist Kendra Cherry says research is finding many benefits to an “inside-out” mental approach.
The reason for starting with one’s thinking, is that physicality is a bit like a car parked in the garage. The vehicle has all the working parts, but it remains inactive. It doesn’t move until a person gets in and drives it. The same can be said about one’s physical state. What one thinks about the body, can push it towards experiencing good or bad health outcomes.
In an interview about best health practice, Dr. Mimi Guarneri, author of The Heart Speaks: A Cardiologist Reveals the Secret Language of Healing, discusses how to achieve greater wellbeing. Described as a catalyst in the field of integrative medicine, Guarneri says, “…I firmly believe when people have peace inside, when they go in and they feel connected to something larger than themselves. …They start to have healthier behaviours. I have really changed from looking at health from a physical outside-in to a spiritual inside-out.”
TIP: To get more zip-and-zing into your life, start the day in the driver’s seat. “Take possession of your body and govern its feeling and action” (Science and Health p. 393). Don’t slow your energy levels down by rehashing negative thoughts and fears. Worry is weighty thinking. Set yourself free from any jaded and humdrum thoughts. Engage in activities that excite or energize you. Do something you love. Cultivate meaningful relationships. Be proactive. Keep mentally energized.
● Practice, practice, practice.
Henry David Thoreau famously once said, “As a single footstep will not make a path on the earth, so a single thought will not make a pathway in the mind. To make a deep physical path, we walk again and again. To make a deep mental path, we must think over and over the kind of thoughts we wish to dominate our lives.”
To possess a zest for life, and express vitality from sunrise to sunset, requires a hands-on approach. In other words, it takes practice. Your choices, thoughts and actions can influence your level of vim and perkiness. Perhaps that’s why staff at the Mayo Clinic believe that “People who strive to meet a goal or fulfil a mission — whether it’s growing a garden, caring for children or finding one’s spirituality — are happier than those who don’t have such aspirations.”
TIP: Boost your energy levels. Think positively about your physical state. Invigorate your thinking with glad-to-be-alive, optimistic, hopeful thoughts. Practice putting a spring in your step by staying mentally energized every second of every day.
Once you get the knack of putting this approach into action, you’ll probably find yourself practicing it frequently. After all, who wouldn’t want to enjoy increased physical well-being and better mental health?
I’m a professional Christian Science Practitioner and Teacher. Through my prayer-based practice, I help people find happiness, health and healing.
I’m a bit of a “night-owl” and somewhat of a “late-riser”, so I find it difficult to be enthusiastic about waking up in the mornings – especially during the colder, darker, winter months. So, it’s good to know that there are some useful, practical ways to get invigorated at the very beginning of the day – by starting from the “inside-out”. That’s a great idea to develop the practice of “energizing thought”, and then stay mentally energized throughout each day. Thanks for the helpful suggestions.
Thank you Travis for your comment. Glad to know that you found the ideas in this post helpful in getting you “up and at ’em” as the saying goes. Starting with thought to put energy into your day, has known benefits for improving bodily and mental wellbeing. Keep practicing!
The expression ‘use it or lose it’ is not perfect but it is one I often think about and matches the sentiment of your report. I find I can get quite lazy sometimes, just lying around home, with nothing of interest on TV or no book to read. It can be quite habit forming unless I rouse myself out of this dreaming and start to be active again. I soon find there is plenty to keep me active all day. Someone once said to me that we cannot afford the ‘luxury’ of doing nothing – it seems to be luxurious but the appearance is deceiving. Mental activity requires practice to keep it agile, just as much as physical movement. After all, the thought is father to the action. To keep action working, keep thinking actively. It works for me.
Well done Peter on your excellent comment. I like what you say, “Mental activity requires practice to keep it agile, just as much as physical movement. After all, the thought is father to the action. To keep action working, keep thinking actively.” That “inside-out” approach energizes mind and body keeping us happy and healthy.
Great ideas everyone, keep them coming it is wonderful to share and help, it warms the heart and lifts the spirit we are so blessed to have computers, instant help always at hand, many thanks to all.
Thank you Pauline. Pleased to know that you are not only enjoying the blogs, but finding the comments helpful too. Staying mentally active leads to good health. The more this is practiced, the more enjoyable life is. There’s never a dull moment.
When opening your blog early this morning I knew that this was for me. When I read the first paragraph my answers were a definite NO to all questions!! Not good I thought. Will be doing my best to follow the tips you made and learn to put a spring in my step each day. Thanks Beverley.
Well done Yvonne on being willing to boost your mental energy level. It definitely puts more zip-and-zing into your life, and enables you to start the day in the driver’s seat. I know you’ll enjoy practicing this “inside-out” approach to good mental and physical health.
Very bouncy blog. I love what Mary Baker Eddy had to say.
Thanks Barbara for your comment. Glad you felt it put some bounce in your step. Yes, the quote from Mary Baker Eddy is both encouraging and invigorating. It certainly empowers one to take charge of thought and action.
thank you I will read that page and iy is encouraging too
Thank you Regina for your comment. I’m glad that you liked this article and plan to read the page from the book I mention – Science and Health, by Mary Baker Eddy. We need all the encouragement we can get to help us keep our thoughts energized. Keep up your good work.