Kendra's Favorite Things

Well isn't that the truth Ms. Baldwin, and I couldn't have said it better myself. Have you ever set foot into work and have someone immediately say "looks like someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed today?" Yeah, me too. (Not very often, but it's certainly happened more lately than usual). It is so entirely true that what we do with our mornings really shapes the way the rest of our day will turn out. There's another quote (and you know I love my quotes) that says "your day will go the way the corners of your mouth turn." So the question is, how do you want to shape your day?

Louise Hay is a brilliant teacher of self love and she's taught me a ritual that I think everyone should follow. I've added my own special touches to this to give it the "Kendra" touch. Try it for a week and I guarantee you'll be feeling better after just a few days. Do it for a month and you could transform the way you start your day forever. Give it a shot... after all, what do you have to lose? A few extra minutes of sleep? Trust me your alarm clock will get over it. Remember, how you start your day is how you start your life. Let me repeat. How you start your day is how you start your life. This is a daily 5 minute ritual that will be well spent no matter who you are or where you are in your life. Try it; you won't regret it.

Step 1: Thank your bed.

Thank your comfortable, warm, safe and wonderful bed for giving you the gift and nourishment of sleep. Many people in this world are not lucky enough to have a bed. Don't take it for granted. Thank your bed every single day. It may sound weird, but just try it tomorrow, wake up and literally say: "Thank you bed. I love you." Do it!

Step 2: Count your blessings.

List off all the things you are grateful for from big to small, just say whatever comes to mind, even if it's "a healthy pinky toe." There is nothing too small to show gratitude for. I really try to get down to the nitty gritty so I can find new things everyday since the big things usually don't change. Get creative. You have so much to be thankful for. Here's what I took inventory on this morning.

KLD's Attitude of Gratitude on 6/24/13: "I'm grateful that I have a beautiful roof over my head that protects me from the elements and keeps me safe and warm. I'm grateful that I have wonderful neighbors that are friendly and that we all look out for each other. I'm grateful that I have the MOST amazing family in the world, and even more grateful that I get to see them in 10 days! I'm grateful for ALL of my friends. They are amazing and supportive and I couldn't ask for better people to be surrounded by and learn from. Even more specifically today I'm very grateful for Allison, Allie, Alexandra, Melissa P., Natalie and Shannon. I'm grateful that I get to see so many of my friends at Melissa M.'s wedding this weekend. I'm grateful that I get to work in our LA office next Monday morning so I don't have to drive back down to San Diego and fight the traffic. I'm grateful that I got to see Sami on Friday morning because she always helps me feel like a million bucks. I'm grateful I don't have to wash my hair today (it takes a lot of work people). I'm grateful I get to spend the day at the Park Hyatt Aviara schmoozing clients, and I'm grateful for having a personality that allows me to feel comfortable doing that even during the toughest of times. I'm grateful for a conversation that I had with my boss last week. I'm grateful for being able to spend a wonderful afternoon at Stone Brewery with my friends and their family yesterday playing bocce ball and enjoying craft brews. I'm grateful that I have a wardrobe full of clothes that fit (finally) and that I'm so blessed to not have to stress out about what to wear today. I'm grateful to be alive."

See it's simple... once you get on a role you will just keep going and going, and you'll find even more things to be grateful for every single day. Trust me!

Step 3: Send Positivity into the Universe.

I call this Praying but if that's not the term that works for you than find anything else to call it, but just spend a few moments sending positive vibes, thoughts, and energy out into the world. I do this every day even when I barely have the energy to carry enough positivity for myself alone. The most important part of this ritual is to do this for the people who need it the most, which is usually the people you want to send positivity to the least. The guy who cut you off on the freeway yesterday, your ex-boyfriend or ex-girlfriend, your ex's new love interest, (that's the toughest one, trust me) your boss, the friend you're not in a good place with right now, these are the people that need love the most right now, so be the bigger person and send it their way... the positivity and love will come back to you in spades, just give it some time.

Step 4: Center yourself and love yourself.

After you've done steps 1-3 you're pretty much ready to begin your awesome day. But before you do so, just take one more moment to appreciate and love yourself. Love you for where you are in your life RIGHT NOW, how far you've come, and if you need to be compassionate with yourself and forgive yourself for any mistakes you feel that you've made since yesterday, do it now and move on. If you've been doing really well with eating healthfully but you slipped up at dinner last night, forgive yourself and move on. If you've been trying your best to move away from a situation, but you had a relapse of sorts, tell yourself that you love yourself anyways and just do your best to move on in order to make today a better foundation for success in your journey. Be happy with where you are; wherever that might be. It may not always be pretty, but the more you do this with yourself the better you will start to feel. 100% money back guarantee.

You're now ready to give yourself a big hug and start your day. It's going to be a great one.