By Demetrius Carrington
A good day does not happen by accident. It begins with intention.
I wake up extremely early because I enjoy having a two to three hour head start before the rest of the world gets moving. Those early hours are peaceful. The phone is not ringing and nobody is asking me for anything. That time belongs to me.
I begin with a quiet moment of meditation. I think about what I need to accomplish and how I want to feel while doing it. Then I turn on music that motivates me. Sometimes it is jazz. Sometimes it is techno or ambient music. The style changes, but it always has to make me feel something. Music helps me create the energy I want to carry into my day.
I also reach out to my key friends early. I say good morning, ask how they are doing, and see if there is anything I can do to help them. Everyone wants to feel appreciated. When you freely give appreciation, it often finds its way back to you.
Surrounding yourself with positive people is essential. You cannot build a joyful life while allowing negative people to occupy your mind and drain your energy. Protect your peace. Choose people who respect your dreams and truly want to see you succeed.
Dream big, but understand that dreams require action. Dreams without action are a waste of time. Whatever you want to accomplish, create a plan and begin working on it. You have to believe that your goal is possible and train your mind to continue moving toward it.
Gratitude is another important part of my day. My father passed away almost three years ago. There are moments when I miss him deeply, but there is never a day when I am not grateful for everything he put into me. Whenever one sad thought enters my mind, I replace it with three wonderful things about the life he helped me create. Gratitude does not erase grief, but it reminds us that love leaves something valuable behind.
Speak to people. Smile often and give sincere compliments. Tell someone they look nice. Compliment their cologne, outfit, or energy. A few kind words can change the direction of someone’s day, including your own.
Take care of your body. Start with a good shower. Getting clean can refresh your mind, awaken your senses, and help pull you out of a defeated mood. Move your body in the morning. Exercise creates energy and reminds us that health truly is wealth. Waking up early can also help you develop a more consistent sleep schedule. When you sleep better, you feel better and perform at a higher level.
Look at food as fuel. Try not to put junk into your machine and expect it to perform well. Eat fruits and vegetables. Prepare your meals whenever possible so you know what you are putting into your body. Visit farmers markets and look for fresh and organic choices when your budget allows. Eating well is not about being perfect. It is about giving your body what it needs to take care of you.
Men, we must take better care of ourselves. We need more than a haircut. Get a facial occasionally. Take care of your hands and feet. Find a nice scent and dress neatly. Show people that you value yourself.
Create an atmosphere at home that makes you feel good. Wear comfortable pajamas or loungewear that you actually like. Put art on your walls. It does not have to be a Basquiat. It only needs to inspire you. You do not have to be rich to live well.
You must also protect your mind. Stay away from negative news cycles that keep you fearful and angry. We hear frightening reports about everything from artificial intelligence destroying humanity to racial unrest consuming society. These are difficult times, but everyone is not hateful and every frightening prediction is not destined to happen.
Remember that algorithms keep showing you more of whatever captures your attention. If your feed only shows beautiful people displaying luxurious lifestyles, you may start believing that everyone is rich except you. What you see could be a replica purse, a replica watch, a rented home, or something that does not belong to that person at all.
Do not let an algorithm play with your mind. Much of what appears on your screen is someone else’s program being fed to you for their benefit. Use logic when taking in information. Question what you see and step away when necessary. Get your own program together so you can become more successful.
Enjoy beautiful things, eat at the best restaurants you can responsibly afford, and treat yourself well. Just do not become a slave to labels or someone else’s definition of success. Define accomplishment for yourself.
Every good day begins with self love, gratitude, movement, purpose, and action. You cannot control everything that happens, but you can decide how you meet it. Wake up, get moving, be kind, protect your mind, and go create the day you deserve.
