Wake Me Up: Morning Positivity - Morning Routine - Sit with the Problem

Episode Date: February 15, 2021

Albert Einstein stood out because he didn't run away from the problems that stumped him. Today, you'll stand out for the same reason. Enjoying Wake Me Up? Get ad-free access to the entire WMU catalog + bonus content by joining the WMU Premium Feed. Sign up and start your 7-day free trial at https://wakemeup.supercast.com/. Follow the show on Spotify - Apple Podcasts - Podchaser Say hi or request an episode at www.wakemeuppodcast.com/contact. And find the podcast on Instagram and TikTok. **Only partake in the physical movements suggested in Wake Me Up episodes if you are physically able and in safe surroundings. All movements are done at the individual's own risk. Be safe, and always consult a doctor if you have any questions or concerns.** Have a wonderful day 😃 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you'd like to enjoy Wake Me Up completely ad-free and get access to exclusive bonus content, check out the link in the show notes for the Wake Me Up premium feed, or stick around after the show and I'll tell you more about it. Hey, everybody, and welcome to Wake Me Up. I'm your host, Tyler, and this is the podcast where morning people are made. Albert Einstein once said, It's not that I'm so smart, it's that I stay with you. problems longer than most people are willing to.

In this quote, we have one of the smartest people in modern history, pointing not to his own intelligence, but rather to his hard work and perseverance as the cause for his groundbreaking achievements. So today, we'll take a little time to wake up and sit with those problems that keep bugging us. And maybe, just maybe, this extra bit of time is all we will need to solve it. If not, well, then worse comes to worst.

We'll be that bit closer, a step ahead of where we were before. Now, let's get started. We'll begin this day just like we usually do by opening our eyes, if you haven't done that already. whatever you're struggling with, whatever your problems in life are at the moment,

whatever you're trying to accomplish, I commend you for continuing to show up. You've done it again today. So let's start this day with a pat on the back. For ourselves, each and every one of us deserve it. Be proud of yourself for all that you've done, and all of the great things you have left to do. But for now, let's start the day with something easy.

So take a nice deep breath, and with it, a big stretch. And then exhale the air out and relax your body. Let's do one more just like that. Inhale and stretch, and then exhale and relax. Now, we all face different obstacles in life. different problems to solve. Everyone is on a unique journey. And I don't know what those obstacles might be for you at this point in your life.

Maybe it's love, maybe it's your career, maybe it's your health or a social cause you care about. Maybe it's more than one thing. But whatever it is, whatever problems you're trying to resolve, Be it for yourself or on a grander scale, remember that the most important improvements aren't made overnight. The deepest, toughest, and most meaningful issues we face in life require persistence and dedication.

Otherwise, it wouldn't be meaningful to deal with them. Accomplishing something you've toiled with for years is certainly more fulfilling than figuring something out after just a few minutes. The worthwhile stuff in life that can really affect change requires much more than a moment's attention.

So today, let's choose to face those difficult questions in our lives rather than run from them. Let's put away our fears and our self-doubts and let's just sit with them for a little while, learn about them and learn from them. So on that note, let's take one more deep breath in. And as you exhale, roll over in bed,

and make your way to standing up. All right, now that you're standing, let's do a quick stretch to help warm the body up. Of course, you should only join in these stretches if you're physically able. And if you'd prefer to do a different way to do a different body up. If you'd prefer to do a different stretch, then by all means, go for it. If you want to follow along with me, they're going to start by loosening up the shoulders.

So, leave your left arm down by your side, and let's start with the right arm. Just drawing some big circles as if your arm is a windmill. Do a few of those circles in one direction, and then pause and do a few in the opposite. direction. Okay, now relax your right arm down. And let's do that same thing on the left side, drawing those big circles with the left arm. Once you've done a few revolutions, pause, and then go in the opposite direction. Now let your left arm relax down and take a deep breath in, reaching both arms to the sky this time, reaching out of your shoulders as far as far as far as you possibly can. And then on your exhale, fold forward at the waist, and just let everything

hang towards the ground. Relax your neck. Relax your arms and your shoulders. And try to keep a little bend in your knees. We don't need to push anything too hard this early. Now slowly roll back up to standing, going vertebrae by vertebrae. And once you get there, roll your shoulders up and then let them settle down. All right, so if you want to do more stretches, then be my guest. Otherwise, we're going to go ahead and get ready for our meditation today. So go ahead and grab a sip of water if you'd like or go to the bathroom. But make your way to a comfortable seated position.

And it can be anywhere in your home. Just don't sit in your bed. Now, today we're going to do something that's a little bit different than our usual. Since we're trying to sit with our problems today, rather than running from them, we'll do a very simple journaling exercise. So if you'd prefer to write, then grab a piece of paper and a pen, or you can do this in a note on your phone too. But don't feel like you have to write this stuff down. You can also choose to just close your eyes and follow along with the prompts mentally, Basically, I'll just ask a series of simple questions, and you'll have some time to let your thoughts go and jot them down.

As you'll see, this is a really great way to dissect a problem or a goal, to figure out your motivation behind it, and the various paths you can take forward. So by now, hopefully you've found a comfortable seat. And whether you're going to write or just follow along mentally, let's take this moment to see. settle in. So make sure that you're seated upright, but nice and relaxed, and take a deep breath in. As you exhale, slowly close your eyes. Now let your face soften down and let your shoulders relax. Let's take another deep breath together, filling all the way down into the belly, and then exhaling slowly. You can breathe at your own pace now. just following that in and out, trying to keep it as velvety smooth as possible.

And as you follow that breath for a moment, it will slowly take you deeper and deeper. Now that we're nice and settled in, we're going to start with our journaling exercise. So if you're going to write, then you can open your eyes now. If you're just going to follow along mentally, then you can keep them close. Again, either way is perfectly fine. Just do what feels best for you. Okay, so here's the first question. What is a problem that you've been dealing with lately?

Just pick one thing for now. But it can come from any phase or aspect of your life. All we want to do in this question is name what it is. All right, question two. Why is this thing? a problem. Now remember to let your thoughts come and go freely with these questions. This isn't a test. There's no grades. It's just brainstorming. Question three. Why is this a problem worth solving? In other words, what do you stand to gain by solving this problem? Okay, next question.

What might happen if you fail to solve this problem? In other words, what do you stand to lose if you don't resolve it? Two more questions to go. Here's the next one. What setbacks are you likely to encounter along the path towards a solution for this problem? All right, here is our last one. What are three different ways to go about trying to solve this problem? Again, there are no right or wrong answers.

We're just trying to stretch the brain around this problem a little bit. So if you were writing, then you can put your pin down now. And just close your eyes. Everyone bring your focus back to your breathing for this last moment. And we'll just let all of those thoughts settle back down. Slowly bring yourself back to the room and back to your body, noticing the chair beneath you. maybe your feet on the floor, any sounds in the room.

Take a deep breath in, and as you exhale, open your eyes, and just take a second to gather yourself here. The goal of that exercise is to help frame the problem for you. What is it? Why should you be motivated to resolve it? And how might you accomplish that? If you're ever feeling stuck on something, like you're not making any progress, then you can always come back and do this exercise again.

It can help you get out of your routine way of approaching the problem. And more importantly, if this problem is worth your time and effort, it will remind you why. It's time for today's send off. Let's circle back to the Albert Einstein quote from the beginning. It's not that I'm so smart. It's that I stay with problems longer. The people who do great things aren't set apart by their intelligence or their physical attributes. There is always someone who will be smarter than you, stronger than you, faster than you.

You can't control that. What you can always control, though, is your own output. your effort and exertion, the time you dedicate to something. That's what you control. And according to Einstein, that's the most important thing that sets apart good from great. So what can we learn from Einstein's words of wisdom? Well, don't run from things just because they're hard.

Don't give up, just because you don't figure it out on the first try, or the second, or the third. Things worth chasing in life require persistence. They require failure. You will get knocked down, and you will have to get up again. Einstein could have come up with a thousand reasons to avoid the questions pressing his mind. He could have said, this is too difficult,

or nobody's done this before, so why should I be able to? Or, if I fail, it will be so embarrassing. But he didn't say any of those things. Instead, he chose to sit with the problem. He faced it. And when he got it wrong, he didn't stop. Because of all of that, you and I know his name, and so will generations to be.

come. So my friends, as you turn towards the day that lies ahead of you, I encourage you not to run from the problems you may face as the day unfolds. Don't fear them, turn towards them. Sit with them. Give them your time, your effort, and your appreciation. Don't grow angry at the obstacle, or let fear scare you away. Simply sit. Listen to the problem. Try to understand it. Because it's when we're willing to sit with our problems

and learn all that they have to teach us, that we will finally be able to resolve them. Well, that's all I've got for you today, friends. I really appreciate you tuning in and joining me here this morning. I'll talk to you all soon. And until then, I hope you have a wonderful day. As a wake me up listener, you know the value of a great morning routine, free of distractions.

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