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• A morning journaling practice (or any reflective process) can be critical to consistent progress in life.

• Power of the process is in the questions.

5 Questions to Start Your Morning

Every morning, I sit down at my desk with a notebook and pen for a ritual that enhances my life tremendously: my morning journaling.

It's a reflective process to help me move my life forward.

A habit "stolen" from the likes of Raph Waldo Emerson, Joan Didion, and Ben Franklin, and a list so long it would be impossible to list them all.

These questions are designed to help hold myself accountable, challenge my thinking, and develop a habit of working through things rather than letting them fester. Or, as Winston Churchill referenced his journaling practice, hold a "court martial" against myself.

You might benefit from this exercise if you find yourself rushing through life or carrying excess thoughts about your past or future.

So today, I'm showing you the questions I riff on during my morning journaling.

I hope you'll steal, adapt, and create your own morning ritual.

(My mind has two different days 👇👇👇)

1. What am I grateful for right now?

Sometimes, we become so busy and overwhelmed that we lose sight of how blessed we are to wake up with a pulse. So, the first thing I like to start my morning with is recognizing something, anything, that I'm grateful for in my life. By starting with gratitude, I set the tone for my day.

Gratitude can be a game-changer on those tough days.

2. What virtue can I practice here?

Aristotle wrote, "Courage is the first virtue that makes all other virtues possible." And if we are going to live a virtuous life, we have to recognize when our time to practice such is right in front of us.

It's no secret that obstacles in life seem to pop up far more than we expect and certainly much more than we desire. But where we get in trouble is our reaction when things don't go as planned.

Small setback on our goals? Chance to practice patience.

Difficult times with a friend or family member? Chance to practice grace.

News that drastically changes your well-thought-out plans? Chance to practice fortitude.

Life is challenging. Chasing life how you expect it to be makes is more complicated than it should be.

3. Where am I standing in my own way?

Reflection is about recognizing where you're off track and what it's costing you in living your best life.

For example, I spent much of my 20s and 30s living with a defeated mindset. It felt like nothing ever went my way.

Eventually, after years of journaling (and miles of running), I was able to retrain my mind to live with abundance and fortitude. To face obstacles head-on, rather than in the role of a victim.

This shift led to the greatest transformation of my life, a much healthier marriage and a confidence not easily shaken.

I waited far too long to address this issue. And I wish I would've attacked the problem sooner.

4. What's bothering me that I need to let go of (on the paper)?

Your time is precious and doesn't need to be spent replaying and overanalyzing things bothering you.

If you have something rattling around in your head, work through it. You'll probably find that you can cut the time it owns real estate in your head in half.

Had a conversation yesterday that bothered you? Work through it on paper. Then, once you've given yourself responsible space, do what's best from there.

Most problems in life aren't quite as complex as we make them out to be in the moment (or our heads).

5. What am I currently excited about in life right now?

Living with a deep and meaningful purpose is critical to my happiness.

In the hustle of life, it's really easy to overlook this. So, I consciously reflect and acknowledge what brings me the most energy, and I find meaning in pursuing.

Laughing with your family. Pursuing goals that are authentic to you. Spending leisure time on things you find fun is what fuels a purposeful life.

In Conclusion

This simple morning ritual has become invaluable in pursuing my best life.

It's more than a mindfulness technique; it's a playbook for continued growth and mental clarity.

It's a critical habit to keep me in check with who I'm in the pursuit of becoming and where I want to go.

It also helps me break down those daily challenges I face and gives me a safe place to work through those things—so I'm not putting it on someone else.

Try this 10-minute process out and see if it works for you.

Perhaps you only need a few of these questions or have some in mind that better serve you.

Ultimately, it's more about making it a positive practice that contributes to living a happier, healthier, and more abundant life.

Hope this helps!

Wait!! Before you go…if you enjoyed this please take 13 seconds (I timed it) to forward to someone you like!

And let me know how this practice goes if you start it!