Cultivate a singular daily practice

I woke up the other day feeling a little cloudy and a little lost. Even in my morning meditation, I felt like I couldn't sit still and I couldn't get my mind to stop jumping around. I was feeling all out of sorts and I wasn't sure why. I finally took a deep breath and internalized these feelings I was having. I observed each emotion with compassion and then slowly, with each breath, tried to let these negative feelings go. 

When days like this come around, isn't it so easy to surrender to a bad day? (Bring on the ice-cream and sad songs!) It's so easy to let feelings get to you and to be grumpy the entire day! (grumpy emoticon here) For many of us, it is much harder to turn it around and think positively. 

One thing that I've been practicing when I feel like I've woken up on the wrong side of the bed, is to do ONE thing that brings me happiness. ONE thing that brings me bliss. ONE thing that I'm passionate about. Just ONE thing without looking beyond this one particular day. I focus all of my intentions on this one single act that helps me live my life with passion, creativity, and bliss... and things start to turn around. 

If you can accomplish this ONE thing that brings you joy, you've already done something great for the day. This doesn't mean that you sit around and do nothing all day. It means you go about your day, doing what you need to do, but you don't let things get to you. You focus your energy on this ONE thing that brings you joy. Let your heart choose what this single act will be. Whether it is going for a run, doing yoga, making dinner with a friend, playing with your dog, volunteering, or simply watching the sunset... whatever it is, focus your energy on this singular act that brings you happiness. By doing this, you subconsciously practice being positive, being grateful, having patience and compassion for where you are in life right now. 

As you cultivate a singular daily practice in your life, this energy becomes part of something bigger - a profound, long term personal transformation. Each time you concentrate on what makes you happy, this force accumulates and your soul's intentions begin to work through you, manifesting your dreams, desires and sacred life purpose. 

We all have bad days, but it doesn't need to consume us. We have a choice. We have control. We can turn things around and feel happier and lighter inside. This is just one tool you can use to help you bring more sunshine into your day. Try it next time. 

What things do you do to turn a bad day into a good day? Please feel free to share!