HEALING
My Miracle Morning
3 Key Things that Jump-Start My Life Post-Divorce.
Disclaimer: I’m by no means an expert when it comes to mental health and I recommend seeking professional help as I have done so in this ongoing journey.
Let us take a quick trip down memory lane…
It’s early 2019 and I’ve hit rock bottom. I had to bottle up all the feelings of hate, hurt, sorrow and betrayal just to muster up the courage to find a studio apartment in the city and start my life again. As I began unpacking my things from trash bags, suitcases, and boxes, tears started to roll down my eyes. The promise of raising a family together, growing old, our hopes, our dreams, etc. with her was gone. Seven years of memories disappeared.
The promise of raising a family, growing old, our hopes, our dreams, etc. with her was gone.
Perseverance
Sad, isn’t it? You would think that at this point of this article, I would hit you with the 3 key things that changed my life right?
No.
I struggled. I had to crawl, cry and reach out to many of my friends left in my contacts just to feel comforted. While they helped tremendously (and you know who you are), one word smacked me in the face as I lay on the floor of my new boarding house-like apartment with strangers. That word was perseverance.
Continued effort to do or achieve something despite difficulties, failure, or opposition.
The Miracle Morning
With my rediscovery of persevering in life, I stumbled upon this book on Amazon. I’m not affiliated whatsoever with Hal but I highly recommend the quick read if you’re personally going through a tough time.
I won’t spoil this book but the key takeaways I got from reading it formed what I call now My Miracle Morning, a daily mantra and routine that jolted me back into this beautifully chaotic world called life.
1. Five Things You’re Grateful For
You wake up and immediately say them. It can be as simple as being grateful for your pet, family, friends, partner, etc. You get the gist of it but it’s very important to appreciate things no matter how small or big they may be. Here are the 5 things I’m grateful for that I say to this day.
Being alive
Being strong (mentally and physically)
Still having my job
Being on this journey
My friends & family
2. Twenty-Five Pushups & Situps
Can you imagine doing 25 pushups and situps every morning for 365 days? That’s 9125 in a single year. It was something I included in my morning ritual to checkbox a win for my day. I’m not promising any get-fit plan with this but you can feel a sense of accomplishment even when the worse of days occur.
You can feel a sense of accomplishment even when the worse of days occur.
Was I able to do this for the whole year? Honestly, no, but I pushed myself and did so for 9+ months, which is 6k more than some of my friends who hardly go to the gym.
3. Immediately Make the Bed & Drink Water
I always struggled with staying hydrated and making my bed as a child. The constant nagging I got from my parents got me into building this bad habit as soon as I turned 18 and left the house.
That changed. I had to be disciplined and know that this was the benefit that I would feel and appreciate later in life.
Why the bed you ask? I call it the cherry on top of my miracle morning ritual. A way of signing off my day with success and the right amount of feelgood I need to face any task head-on.
So What Now?
As the saying goes, it’s a marathon, not a sprint. You need other factors to overcome such a tragedy as divorce. Significant changes can’t happen quickly and life thrives on small incremental moments. Be consistent and thrive on these 3 small miracles. I’m still on this journey and hope this jump-starts yours.
