logo
logo
Sign in

Starting Your Day Right - Positive Affirmation Meditation

avatar
Yoga For Courage

Mornings set the tone for the rest of our day. If we start our day feeling rushed, stressed, or negative, it can be hard to break that cycle. On the other hand, if we wake up feeling relaxed and empowered, we start off on the right foot. Practicing an intentional good morning meditation focused on uplifting affirmations and compassion for yourself, and others can transform your mornings from chaotic to calm.

The goal with a morning meditation isn't to add another item to your to-do list. It's about taking time in stillness and silence to reconnect with your best self before diving into the busyness of your day. Ten or fifteen minutes of practice goes a long way. Over time, by beginning your days centered on optimism and self-acceptance, you'll likely see benefits that ripple into the rest of your waking hours.

What is Positive Affirmation Meditation?


Affirmations are positive phrases we can repeat to ourselves or write down to shift our mindset. Some common examples are "I am enough" or "I have all that I need within me." By focusing on uplifting messages like these during meditation, we can start to transform our inner narrative from self-criticism to self-confidence.


One method is to choose a meaningful affirmation, set a timer for five or ten minutes, sit comfortably with your eyes closed, and silently repeat your phrase continuously with intention. Pay attention to the feelings and sensations that arise without judgment. Let any negative or distracting thoughts float by like clouds passing through the sky while bringing your attention back to your affirmation.


What is Self-Compassion Meditation?


Many of us spend ample time supporting, praising, and even doting on our friends and loved ones. Yet, we wouldn't dream of offering the same nurturance to ourselves. This unbalanced way of relating often leaves us depleted. Self-compassion meditation aims to help build our inner emotional resources by extending the same caring attitude we show others toward ourselves.

There are a few elements central to the practice of self-compassion: mindfulness, shared common humanity, and kindness. Mindfulness helps us pay attention to our experiences with clarity, observing even very difficult emotions without criticism. Common humanity reminds us that all people have moments of joy and suffering—we aren't alone. Kindness encompasses responding to ourselves with care and understanding.


A simple self-compassion meditation is to call to mind a situation where you're currently struggling. Once you have this challenging scenario in focus, recite internally for a few minutes the following phrases: "This is a moment of suffering. This is part of being human. May I give myself compassion"? Repeat gently, letting the meaning behind the words sink in.


The Benefits of Good Morning Meditation


If you aren't already incorporating mindfulness into your mornings, committing to just a short daily meditation may offer surprising advantages:


Less Stress

Beginning your day by giving yourself permission to sit and breathe sets a priority of calm rather than strain. This prevents you from moving straight from sleep mode into high alert, allowing your nervous system crucial settling time. With practice reducing stress hormones first thing, you'll have better-coping reserves for pressure later.


Increased Positivity

The thoughts and self-talk we engage in after waking up often set the mood for hours to come. Focusing on affirmations, empathy, and non-judgement in your dawn meditations plants seeds of optimism, resilience, and acceptance to harvest all day long.


Improved Concentration

Asking your mind to remain still and present on a single point for even a few minutes builds its flexibility and sharpens your focus. Establishing this concentration muscle memory means you'll more easily be able to direct attention to what matters most when faced with distractions.


Wherever you currently find yourself in relation to mindfulness, know that beginning or going deeper with meditation is always accessible. By devoting just ten minutes in the quiet each morning to connecting consciously with your best self, you allow the possibility of living your days vibrantly, at ease with who you are. Not only that, but how you show up impacts everyone around you, too-so transform yourself through self-compassion and transform the world through the positive ripples you create. What better way to start each new day?

collect
0
avatar
Yoga For Courage
guide
Zupyak is the world’s largest content marketing community, with over 400 000 members and 3 million articles. Explore and get your content discovered.
Read more