We talk a lot about habits, especially morning rituals. What we do each day to start it off on the right foot.
Getting up early is my saving grace. The quiet of the morning is one of the most magical times of the day and sets the tone for the day.
I’ve felt very on top of my morning game for years now. It’s my time to shine.
That is … until I had two good friends, who also happen to be VFit trainers over last month.
What follows is a simple story about how my morning coffee ritual brought me to one of the most powerful mantra’s I now repeat several times a day and how my support system gave me a very powerful lesson.
My morning ritual actually begins the night before: I lay out my workout clothes, get my water cup out and set my coffee maker up to brew a fresh pot of coffee as soon as I am up at 5:30am. I always brew a near full pot of coffee as a security blanket (I’ve got 3 young kids and a puppy, you NEVER know how nightime will go!), but there is almost always at least 1/2 pot left by day’s end.
So there I am, hanging out with VFit trainers Janelle and Lauren a few weeks ago, chatting with them in the kitchen as I get my “stuff’ set for the next morning.
I skipped the getting the fresh pot of coffee ready part and they asked me why?
I replied, “Oh there is enough old coffee left, I’ll just reheat it in the morning, it’s easier and that way I don’t waste anything.”
To which they both gasped and asked, “Does it taste good reheated?!?”
We all know the answer to that, no way! It tastes like burnt day old coffee.
“WHY ARE YOU DOING?!” asked Janelle.
“You deserve a fresh cup of yummy hot coffee EVERY DAY! You do everything for everyone,” added Lauren. “
“Rachele, YOU DESERVE IT”, they both shouted at me.
It sounded amazing to have a fresh, hot cup of coffee each day! Extra work, yes. Maybe a bit extravagant since I already had coffee in the house that I already made, ableit very old, but still – it was there.
And so for the next few minutes my good friends gave me a very powerful lesson that I’ll never forget.
YOU deserve fresh coffee if it makes you happy.
Now I know what you are all thinking! Buy a keurig, make less coffee each day, what on earth does coffee have to do with a fitness blog, I can go on!
But I share, because this lesson really hit me hard.
By changing the script in my head from “this is more work”, “it’s easier if I just….”, to “I DESERVE THIS!” changed my entire outlook from that day forward.
Say it! Say those 3 power words next time something feels like a chore or like you aren’t worth the extra effort.
I promise it will empower you and take you from a feeling of “I have to”, to “I get to”. And when something feels like a reward, you will do what it takes to keep those rewards coming, because you do deserve it!
For you, maybe it’s something like taking a daily shower, getting outside on a walk every day, or taking time out of the day to exercise.
What is your ‘fresh pot of coffee’ that you deserve that you’ve been neglecting?
Even if it’s a little extra time and effort, if it’s something that fills you up and will make you feel good – give yourself the license and grace to do it for yourself.
Then savor it. Enjoy it. Know you deserve it and are worthy of it.
What is your ‘fresh pot of coffee’ you’ll give yourself today?
Share below in comments once you do it and let us know how it feels.
I had so much despair after the 2016 election. I turned to knitting as my creative outlet and stress reliever. I decided to turn something horrible into something positive. I taught myself to knit by watching YouTube videos and made my first hat in time for the Women’s March. While much of what I feared has indeed come to pass, I have since made hats for my friends with cancer when their hair falls out, premie baby hats as part of a UCSF project, Irish caps and sweaters for loved ones and sweaters for myself. I love the smell and feel of high quality yarn. I deserve good quality natural fiber yarn! It takes me to my happier place. Making the world better one stitch at a time. Lots of mending lies ahead. Knit 1, Purl 1… breathe.
It’s funny! My husband always gets his coffee ready the night before so that all has to do is turn on the burner in the mornings (he uses a moka pot). I on the other hand like to make mine every morning. I grind the beans fresh every morning and I love the smell! I use a aero press. I enjoy the whole task because I deserve it!
Coffee has always been something I have in the morning, it is definitely my morning ritual. I usually have a cup at home and then take some to work. There is something about holding my thermos even if I don’t finish it, that’s comforting. Now, my daily morning workout has also become something I deserve. I crave it every day and know how good it is for me to start my day with a great VFit workout!