It’s a lunchtime question. You hear it in restaurants. You hear it at the office. The question is, "Well, how is your day going?" You then answer, "I’ve been busy" or "I can’t believe that it is already noon" or "Don’t even ask!" But what if you were to begin the day differently? Could that make a difference in how you might answer that question at noon?
Every morning when I wake up, there is the possibility of a new day. Yet, when I get out of bed, the dust of yesterday remains. I may wake up remembering the stress I felt yesterday, the aggravation that I felt, and the anxiety that I felt. If I am not careful, before my coffee is even brewed, I can start the day tied up in knots over yesterday.
So what can I do? I can be very intentional about how I begin each day. My day might begin differently by committing to the following:
1. Today, I will begin my day by focusing on God. He is greater than my frustrations, my disappointments, and my worries. As a result, I choose to begin my day reading my Bible and praying before I go to work.
2. Today, I will begin the day with the "end in mind." (To quote Stephen Covey). I need to keep the big eternal picture in front of me. Life is so much more than whatever frustration I am experiencing at the moment.
3. Today, I will choose to make someone else’s day just a little brighter. Smile at a person. Remember and use that person’s name. Show interest in another person’s life. I will choose to focus on someone besides myself and what is happening to me.
4. Today, I will contribute to building a more positive environment wherever I am. I will very slow about being critical or saying something that is negative. I will be quick to point out what is good and right.
5. Today, I will say "thank you" to people who contribute in some way to my day. I will especially look for opportunities to express appreciation to people who don’t expect to hear it.
6. Today, I will choose to have an attitude that reflects the goodness of God. I will not allow circumstances or other people to change my attitude. After all, my attitude reflects who I am as God’s child and not the circumstances around me.
7. Today, I will in some way communicate to those who are nearest to me, my family and my friends, that I love them.
No doubt you can add to this list. What would you add?