Wake Me Up: Morning Positivity - Morning Routine - We're All Doing Our Best

Episode Date: December 6, 2021

Practice patience and understanding for yourself and others in this refreshing morning wake up. Support WMU Sponsors: Sip A Mate. Upgrade your morning beverage experience with a sleek, new cup from Sip A Mate. Use code WAKEMEUP and get 20% percent off all purchases site-wide at www.sipamate.com. 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. Hi there, good morning and welcome to Wake me up, the podcast where morning people are made. I'm your host, Tyler. There's a simple maxim that I try to remind myself of routinely. And it's that we're all just trying our best. You may disagree with me, but I think it's true, and I'll explain why in a bit. At minimum, this can help us understand and work with people who we find difficult, destructive, or objectionable.

Before we begin, I want to thank Bianca for requesting this episode. As you know, you can always reach out to me with episode ideas. I love to hear from you all and learn how I can. make the show hit home for you. Let's go ahead and get started. Whatever you're doing, wherever you are, just pause for a second. Take a big breath in. Fill your lungs completely. Hold it for a second and then exhale. And let's do one more breath like that, but this time, let's warm things up a little bit. So take a big inhale and a big stretch with it reaching out in all directions, and then exhale and relax.

Now let's do that one more time. So inhale and stretch as far as you can, and then exhale and release. You can enjoy this last moment of quiet before the day begins, and I'll circle back to why I think everyone is always just doing the best they can in life. Let's face it, we've all got our issues.

Some of us may be more agreeable in certain ways than others, sure. But the thing is, we all have our own issues for a reason. They don't just show up out of nowhere one day. Things happen to us, and that's what makes us the way we are. Some people are lucky enough to grow up in a stable home as a child. Others don't have that blessing. Some people have had a really bad person. boss. And so when it's their turn to be a boss, they don't have a good model for how to lead.

Some people have been treated poorly by others, and so they don't treat themselves well. There is an infinite variety of issues and explanations for them. But my point is that we are all imperfect. And our imperfections are usually not our own fault. I think we can all agree that we would prefer to be loved unconditionally. We'd prefer to be a good friend, not a bad one. We'd prefer to be a good boss and not a bad one. But we step into each of these roles with our own pre-existing problems, and so we don't do them perfectly.

We just do the best we can with the tools we've got. That doesn't mean we shouldn't try to improve, but perhaps we should all give each other a little bit more latitude and acknowledge that none of us want to be flawed. What we can do is try to understand each other's flaws, and through that we can all do our best a little better. So there's another great day lying ahead, another chance at this thing called life. Let's not waste another moment of it lying in bed. So take a deep breath in, and as you exhale, roll over, and make your way to standing up.

Okay, now that we're all standing, let's take one quick moment to loosen up. We did a couple of very simple stretches already, so we'll keep this one short and sweet. Of course, feel free to do something completely different if you'd like. If you're going to come with me, then inhale and reach both of your hands to the sky. Reach all the way out of your shoulders. Try to reach farther than you ever have before. And then on your exhale, fold forward at your waist. Let everything hang towards the ground.

And just relax for a second. Feel how your blood begins to circulate a little bit quicker. now that you're moving. I'll slowly roll back up to standing, one vertebrae at a time. And when you get there, roll your shoulders up and down. So we have a bit of a longer meditation today.

So I'm going to go ahead and move us to that. But if you want to press pause and do more stretches, then by all means, go for it. Otherwise, you can go ahead and find a comfortable seat anywhere in your home. Just don't sit in your bed. And as usual, feel free to grab a sip of water or use the bathroom along the way. Today's meditation will incorporate a visualization that will hopefully help you get a fresh perspective

on a relationship you've been having difficulty with lately. This might be a boss, a friend, a family member, or even a neighbor. It can be anyone. And this doesn't have to be a huge difficulty. you're experiencing with them. Just go with whatever comes to mind first. I think you'll find that afterwards, you'll see them and yourself a little bit differently.

So by now, hopefully you've found a nice seat. And you're seated upright, supported, but relaxed. Take a deep breath in and on your exhale, slowly close your eyes. Take this first moment to make sure you're comfortable. Let your face soften, let your shoulders relax. You can breathe at whatever pace feels right for you. Most importantly, you want it to feel smooth and effortless,

and you can follow the rise and fall of your breath, allowing it to draw you deeper and deeper within. Now that you're settled in, Imagine that you're looking in a mirror. See your own face there, staring back at you. There's no need to turn away or be afraid. It's just you. See yourself as you are.

With all of your strengths and weaknesses, bundled into one beautiful package, and think of one thing that you struggle with in life. Be it a bad habit, or an emotional setback. It can be anything, big or small. As you see yourself in this imaginary mirror, think back on all of the things

that were out of your control and created this issue for you, this bad habit or this struggle you're having. All of the things you didn't ask for, despite this flaw, appreciate that you still get, by every single day. You may not do it perfectly or gracefully all the time,

but you do the best with the tools that you have. Look yourself in the eyes, in that imaginary mirror, and tell yourself, you're doing your best, and you're doing great with what you've got. Now you can let that image of yourself go. clear your mind follow your breath

for just one cycle and now allow a new image to come to mind a relationship that you've had some recent difficulty with again it can be anyone and the problem can be big or small it doesn't matter start by seeing that person's face in your mind

notice the details Much as a moment or two from your past with this person unfold. Moments that highlight the difficulty you've had with them. Pinpoint the issue you have with them that creates this difficulty, this friction in your relationship. Be real. Speak your truth. It's okay.

This is just in your own mind. And now that you've pinpointed the source of this friction, Consider all of the things that were out of their control in their past, that created this issue in them. And I know you don't know everything about their past, but just try to fill in some of those blanks. Consider what might have created this in them. What might have happened to them in life that made them this way,

despite this flaw they have, appreciate that they still get by every single day. They may not do it perfectly or gracefully all the time, but they do their best with the tools they have. Look into their face and into their eyes once more. Tell them, you're doing your best, and you're doing great with what you've got. Now you can let all of that fade away.

Bring your attention back to your breath for just another moment or so. following that rise and fall of your chest. Now slowly begin to come back to the room, feel your feet on the floor and the chair beneath you. Let's take one last breath together. So inhale and as you exhale, open your eyes, and take a second to gather yourself. So I hope that helped you to get a new perspective

on the friction you've been dealing with in this relationship. I've had plenty of my own difficult relationships too, and in my experience, the friction isn't always going to disappear. But what we can do is try to ease the friction as much as possible. And the best way to do that is through understanding, seeing the other person for who they are, understanding their struggles and the life that they've been through, giving them credit for the things that they've had to deal with,

the obstacles they've had to overcome. All of these things affect us, and sometimes they leave scars. Now, that doesn't mean you should allow them to scar you, but perhaps it will encourage you to be a little more patient with them. Perhaps a little patience is all they need. Consider that you can show them tools that they might benefit from. Maybe they'll do the same for you.

Friends, we all have our issues. We're always going to be flawed. It's just the way it is. Everyone else is in the same boat. So when we come together in any kind of relationship with someone else, there is bound to be friction. Whether it's love, friendship, co-workers or neighbors. in those moments of difficulty and tension,

try to remember that this person is just doing their best with what they've got. They may not have all of the tools for this situation like you do. And sometimes you may not have the tools that they do. We don't have to be best friends with everyone, but we do have to coexist. And we can all learn, something from each other. So let's try to give each other a little latitude to be imperfect, a little patience and

understanding. That's something we all are looking for, isn't it? You may be the one offering it now, but be certain that it will be the other way around one day. And there's nothing wrong with that. We all have to give and take. because when it comes down to it, we're all flawed, and we're just trying to do the best with what we've got.

That's all I've got for this episode. Thank you so much for joining me here this morning. I'm planning something really exciting for the new year, a seven-day challenge to reset your mind and get focused for the year. It will start January 1st, and it'll be just like all of your other, favorite Wake Me Up episodes, but tailored to help you start the new year in the best way possible. I wanted to let you know in advance so you can plan for it.

There is nothing you need to do except get excited and tell a few friends who might want to join in the fun. I'm really looking forward to it. I'll talk to you all next week, and until then, I hope you have a wonderful day.