By: Linda Sepadin
"Oh, I'm so tired!""Damn, I've got so much to do.""Bummer, I wish I didn't have to get up.""What a lousy night's sleep I had."A whole barrage of curse words that I cannot print in this column probably accompanied these sentiments.Obviously, there are better ways to greet the day - even if you actually feel all of the above. Here are a few options.As you roll out of bed, greet your day with an upbeat "good morning." Go ahead. Say it to yourself. Out loud, so you not only think the words but hear them too. Get rid of the fear that talking to yourself means you're going bonkers. Au contraire, it actually helps you maintain your sanity. After you've wished yourself a "good morning," pass the message on to others who are beginning their day. See if the lilt in your voice becomes more upbeat, as your morning progresses.As you stumble to the bathroom, look in the mirror and say, "Hi there, good looking." Yes, I'm talking about greeting that tuckered out, pooped out puss of yours in a respectful way. You know that once you shower, tend to your toilette and get your juices flowing, you're going to be looking just fine. So, let your words encourage you to be animated and playful.As you sit down to breakfast, (even if you eat your breakfast standing up), take a moment or two to say a short but encouraging sentiment to yourself. Do it right away, neither deferring nor neglecting it, lest it be forgotten as your day gets busy. If you are at a loss about what you might say to yourself, here are a few suggestions: "You're doing just fine," "I'm proud of you," "You're one smart cookie," "You can do it," "Look at how far you've come." These are my ideas. Now, you add your sentiment. Relax, close your eyes, take a deep breath. Trust that the right words will pop into your consciousness.The words you choose to begin your day can have an enduring effect on the rest of your day. Choosing respectful, upbeat and caring words can boost your energy and morale, no matter how tired or weary you are when you first awaken.
Linda Sapadin, Ph.D. is a psychologist in private practice and author of Master Your Fears: How to Triumph Over Your Worries and Get On With Your Life. She specializes in helping individuals, families and couples overcome self-defeating patterns of behavior. She invites you to visit her website at www.psychwisdom.com.Copyright © 2004
