3 things I try to tell myself every morning | by Joanna B | Mar, 2022

3 things I try to tell myself every morning

1. Today is going to be a good day

Life is a cycle. It does not matter how rich you are or how poor you are. You tend to do the same things each day. You try to find the strength to start the same kind of day all over again. I have realised that I worry so much about this cycle that I end up being negative about the whole day and just try managing it till it ends. I have gradually started to accept that in the end, we are responsible for how the days go. I woke up and told myself that today is going to be a good day. That particular sentence instantly gave me the energy to wake up and get going. I felt positive. Whenever I set my mind to this sentence it changes my morning and as it is constantly being said “how you start your morning will determine how your day will go” True or not?

I knew I was tired, but I had no choice but to get going. Spring is around the corner and the snow is melting. The breeze feels so different on the skin and the air is so fresh. I could feel the sun on my face. Even though the sun is still not warm, it warms my heart that I know spring is just around the corner. As you might have noticed by now I am not a big fan of winter.

2. There is nothing that I can not do

Yes let’s face it, this sentence is ambiguous and vast. To me, I know exactly what it means to me. Let me tell you something. If you tell yourself each day that there is nothing I can not do, you are tuning your mind to work harder towards your goals, and the things that seem impossible suddenly become possible. For example, I never thought I would become a nurse. Frankly, at the age of 18, it is sometimes difficult to decide what profession you would want to have possibly for the rest of your life. I had a baby at a very young age, but I kept on telling myself that I will continue to pursue my education and career no matter what. I was told many times to just have a few years’ break, but I knew myself. If I had that break it would just be harder for me to go back to school. This is not to discriminate against mothers who want to stay home with their children and give them all the time they need. This is right for some people also. My son was about a year old when I got into nursing school. Bachelor’s degree in nursing. It was tough I will not lie, but I kept on saying there is nothing I can not do. I graduated and I was very proud to have a degree at that young age.

I know so many mothers who are my age now and are struggling to go back to school because they have waited so long and they become unsure about what they want to do in the end. Yes, children are only young for a short period, but I have realised my children will be children for many years. They will still need me for a very long time. I could have stayed home for let us say 2 years and then applied for school, but at that time It was not also financially smart to do so. In every circumstance, we find ourselves we need to try to do what is best for us. Whether education, career, self-development, exercise it is important to say there is nothing I can not do. This will take you a long way.

3. Who am I?

I can give you a direct answer that yes of course I am the daughter of a European and an African. I am a woman. I am the sibling. I am a mother. I am an entrepreneur. These are obvious answers and answers that are constant. Ask yourself “who am I”?

The reason Why I ask myself this question is to remind myself to be proud of my achievements and to remember that I exist. Sometimes we get lost in ourselves. We tend to just try to manage each day as we have been doing our whole life. We wake up, we go to school or go to work, and before you realise you have forgotten to take care of yourself. Both physically and mentally. Sometimes I can go on with my routine and just go to the bathroom. Look in the mirror and just stop and ask myself “ who am I? Then I tell myself I am a gift, I am human, I have feelings, I think, I breathe. I am beautiful. I am hardworking. These do not need to be true, but they should be things that you strive for and things that will help you grow your self-esteem. Let me tell you something the moment you say one negative thing about yourself that is what you will believe. Avoid saying negative things to yourself. Yes, I am a victim of that too.

Do you know that what you keep on telling yourself eventually is how people will see you be? And do you know why? Because you will simply stop caring about yourself. You will stop caring about your physical, emotional, and mental health.

What happens then if you stop caring about your physical health?

You will not be able to grow your self-esteem. You will feel tired, you will not be happy with the body you have. Mind you this does not mean to be slim but it means being satisfied with the body you have and feeling healthy.

What happens if you stop caring about your emotional health?

You will not have control. That simple! Listen life will rock you and shake you. If emotionally you are not healthy you will have no control over how you think or how you act. You will be as fragile as glass. You will easily break and you will easily give up. You will find it difficult to get over challenges.

What happens if you stop caring about your mental health?

You will not be able to handle stressful situations. Yes, this is similar to emotional health. I would say emotional health is under mental health. If you stop caring about your mental wellbeing it socially, psychologically, and emotionally affects you. You become so lonely even if you have people around you. You are so deep into your thoughts that it affects negatively anything you do. You will not have the strength to achieve your goals. You will be tired and you will feel helpless. In worst cases, you will be depressed and you will have anxiety.

Lastly, this is not to say that I do not experience anything negative or that I have it all well done and planned out for myself. I am still learning because life is a journey. We learn as we grow, we learn as we change, we learn as we face challenges.

What do you think? Do you say words to yourself? What helps you manage life? Any hints to share?