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WHY DEVELOP A MORNING ROUTINE?

Your intention behind a behavioral change is the cornerstone of progress. When you want to accomplish anything in life, the deeper work must happen at the beginning. You must figure out and convince yourself with a truly motivating “WHY” in order for that change you desire to be worth the effort or uncomfortableness of including a new healthy habit. If you desire to wake up earlier than normal, you must find a strong reason why to inspire that action within you. Once that’s in place, you will see the ability to take action increase exponentially. If your why isn’t truly meaningful to you, you will not make the change.

4 REASONS TO WAKE UP EARLIER

Here are my reasons for desiring to wake up earlier, you are welcome to take all or any that serve you or let them be an inspiration for developing your own!

To have time to develop a relationship with Jesus and with myself through journaling and allow time to heal and just BE.
To enjoy the quiet and magic of the day that only comes in the morning.
To meet my own needs by abiding in God, allowing him to do what only he can do in my heart: encourage, direct, convict, inspire, adore, assert, soothe, heal; and be a full cup for the rest of my day so I can best serve my family, friends, and business.
To take back my personal power and develop trust with myself by accomplishing tinny wins that cultivate confidence in myself. #progressoverperfection here.

Mornings routines are so personal so ask yourself why it is that you would even want to wake up. Then give yourself a lot of grace on this new change as they can become a bit of a drag when we go into them with an illusion of perfection. If you find a more gentle space and compassion for your morning routine, you will be more likely to do it. Start slow and be flexible with how much time you give yourself at first.

Only commit to waking up 3 days of the week.
Give yourself permission to test out different times of waking up to see what works best for you.
Only choose one thing to start integrating.
Give yourself permission to fire any ideas that don’t suit you!
The point is to develop a routine that serves you! Commit to not bashing yourself if you happen to not wake up the “right” time one day or if you decide all the things you wanted to try are too much right now. #gentleness This way you will see yourself able to stick to it much more than if it’s rigid and there’s no room for flexibility. The morning routine is for you, not the other way around.

Trigger warning. I write about a trauma in my life below. In case you’re not in the space to read about it right now.

My mornings have never felt more powerful. You know these past two years have felt like a loss of personal power on so many levels. Coming from a complex trauma survivor let me tell you this;

Nothing that happens to you in this life TRULY has the power to take your personal power away. Not anything can take these things from you:

Your joy
Your peace
Your power
Your hope
Your dignity
Your ability to grieve, learn, grow and respond in a positive manner.

These are gifts from a relationship with Jesus and when you know and accept him as your savior and friend, he seals your heart and protects you in a way that nothing can truly separate you from God, EVER AGAIN.

In Him (Christ), you also, when you heard the word of truth, the good news of your salvation, and [as a result] believed in Him, were stamped with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit [the One promised by Christ] as owned and protected [by God].
Ephesians 1:13

I have experienced being raped and sexually abused; the feeling of powerlessness is at the core of experiencing that kind of trauma. For the longest time, I blamed myself. I thought it happened because of me. I felt so much shame that I became super sick and developed bulimia, cutting myself for relief of my internal pain, I had severe social anxiety, addiction, PTSD, depression, suicide ideation, and low self-esteem.

I could’ve used a few tools to help me express and process all of the shame, hurt, anger, resentment, and sadness I felt inside. I didn’t know that there where different ways, healthy ways to cope with all that I was feeling and desperately needing to distract myself from. So listen, you may not have the same trauma as me, but these past few years have been traumatic and have tried to steal your personal power and that is a feeling of powerlessness that feels awful. No one likes to feel manipulated and controlled. So know that you have hope! If you choose to think differently you’ll feel differently. And I want to equip you with many ideas to introduce into your own morning routine that has self-care in it! Tools for processing all your uncomfortable feelings, a self-care morning routine that gives you the opportunity to feel and experience God’s power that will give you confidence, hope, and trust that you are safe in his hands. If you set the tone for this in the morning, you’ll be able to have God’s power helping you through your day, and you’ll be able to handle whatever comes your way because you’ll know you are not alone!

7 Morning Self-Care Routine Ideas

1.- JOURNALING + READING SCRIPTURE

Even after I was far from all the abuse, I continued to live in powerless! Even when I was out of the situation and had endured and survived such horrific experiences, I allowed the trauma to continue to direct my identity. After a while I noticed, I was still standing. I felt the hope of healing for the first time in my life. I felt like maybe I didn’t have to stay the same. I was still alive. I pressed into a relationship with Jesus after being an atheist for a while, and I found him to be trustworthy. He became my help.

By starting to read the Bible and journaling my feelings to God; I found the tiniest ray of hope and that was just what I needed to keep waking up day after day in so much emotional pain from my past. That tinny ray of hope has now become a beacon of light that continues to encourage me to not give up, even when things feel challenging. When I allowed the truth to be out in the open and invited Jesus into my mess, I began a healing that has transformed EVERY BIT OF ME. I am not the same girl I was. It took a couple of years to sit in the pain. To be aware of it. To accept it. And finally to move past it.

After Jesus healed me (and still is) from so much, this is what I know; No experience or circumstance has the power to take you away. You can be hurt emotionally, physically, mentally, but the actions will never penetrate your soul. If you really look deep inside yourself, you’ll realize that you’re still there and that you are capable of withstanding difficult things. I learned that forgiveness is a freedom choice for myself to gift to ME and that God can turn any difficulty into a testimony of his POWER. So no matter what you’ve been through these past few years, God can and will restore you to a better version that couldn’t have been without the challenge. See, God uses our most painful moments to shine a light where it’s needed. We desperately need the love, grace, and mercy of God right now. This morning time is an opportunity for you to heal from what you’ve experienced, you are a human with so many emotions that need to be expressed and heard, and cared for.

But here’s the deal

Because even when we know that “God can work all things out for our good.” (Romans 8:28) It does not take away the pain that we might feel from the aftermath of the circumstances. That’s why I love Jesus so much. When I healed with him from being raped, he didn’t say, “Liber, get over it. It’s in the past.”

He said, “Baby girl, I was there with you and I’ll be here for you as you heal and become free. Your pain matters to me and I understand how you feel. I will cry every tear with you and hold your hand while you heal, and when we are done, you’ll see yourself like I see you and your future will be so much different than your past. I will use this painful moment to help others that have also experienced something similar and you’ll experience joy in double measure from the hurt that they caused. I will have justice in the end, no one is getting away with anything; if you trust me, I’ll make all things right in the end.

And within you, I am making all things new and there will be freedom in your soul. I will leave NEVER you, NO MATTER WHAT. You are safe in me. When you abide in me, you discover that what you thought was taken, really never left. You have your dignity, love of self because I made you and you can feel confidence because it’s up to me to show my power through you. I need nothing from you, but I am pleased with your faith. You don’t have to prove yourself to me or measure up in any way. You don’t have to worry about how much you sin because I paid it all anyway. No fear is going to stay in your mind because I give you mine to have; it has power, love, and a sound mind. You are worthy of love and connection. Shame doesn’t belong in you, I have died so that you might live. In me, you can do mighty things and there is hope for your future. When I see you I delight in what I see. You are enough. And one day when we meet face to face you’ll enjoy in the Home I prepared for you in heaven and never again suffer or fear. There’s an Eternity waiting very near.

- Jesus

(All of this wisdom has been learned from reading my Bible for years now, I’ve memorized scriptures to help me cope with life. These words are from so many verses that I don’t even remember the addresses to, I hope you can forgive me for not sitting them. They are not my encouragement but God’s, which is found in the Bible, he is the one who deserves the credit. I have seen God’s word transform me. I have hidden scripture in my heart because God’s word is POWERFUL. It has the power to heal you and me.)

So whatever it is that you are feeling right now and however you’ve shown up in the past two years with all this crazy World Pandemic, COVID19 aftermath….or still in-it non-sense, I pray that this post would allow you to find the freedom that lies within you to take back your personal power! To heal and press into a routine that is going to allow you to take the reigns back of your life. No government or TV person or virus should scare you into hiding from your life. You are secure and are in the palms of God’s hands. Listen. God has ordained all your days. No one that passes away has passed in vain and no one that dies hasn’t had their full assignment on earth fulfilled. I know death is so hard to heal from especially when it’s a loved one we’ve lost. Trust me I lost my dad to brain cancer in May of 2020, so I am in the weeds of grieving. I have found, however, that life still goes on. If I am still here, there is a purpose for that and I get to enjoy being alive and enjoy peace, joy, hope, love, and trust that God knows why he promoted my dad to Heaven.

These crazy times have led so many of us to feel so much anxiety. That’s only because we are thinking of a future without God in it. When we journal and pray we are giving our worries to the only one who really has control overall. Put on a page what you really feel. God can take all of your feelings. Not just the pretty ones! Maybe what your heart really desires is to be heard. I know no other better advice than to encourage you to write it down. It matters what you’re feeling because you matter!

To journal and be heard (even if it’s just by God and yourself is enough) hey sometimes somethings you just might want to be kept between you and the Lord.

COZY LIVING ROOM + BIBLE + JOURNALING PRODUCTS

2.- Develop A Ritual Of “Slow Is Better” For Your Morning Drink

I know how fast-paced this life is. If we don’t intentionally make ourselves slow down and really pay attention, we’ll end up never enjoying anything that life has to offer. I challenge you to take your time making yourself a special hot or iced drink in the morning. Or if you’re not into that then do this when you eat breakfast or brush your teeth!

If you are on the drink train. Take your sweet old’ time. Do it so slow it hurts. Be mindful to be here. Connect with you and everything that you’re touching. You don’t have to speed through your life. Enjoy the tinny moments as if they were the BEST this life has to offer. I think if we romanticize the small things in our day, we’ll find contentment, feel grounded, and accept that this life, although it has its crazy ups and downs; it is worth living! Decide that today is the day you celebrate your life as is. You are enough. So make some coffee, tea, hot water with lemon and sip and connect and enjoy!

SHOP MY FAVORITE MORNING COFFEE + TEA TOOLS

3.- Prioritize Physical Movement In Your Morning Routine

Especially when we are hurting or feeling down or anxious we can really benefit from taking time in the morning to build a self-care routine that really serves our heart, mind, and body. Even if all you have is 10 minutes if you’re mindful about what you are doing, your mind recognizes the time put in as you meet your own needs and you begin a wonderful relationship of trust with yourself. I know for me it’s super important to develop a healthy relationship with exercise, physical activity, movement! I know no better way than to wake up to cultivate that relationship through the trial of different types of exercise! These crazy times have led so many of us to feel so much anxiety. We’ve allowed a virus to be god and it’s taking a toll on our minds, therefore wreaking havoc on all aspects of our lives. It’s time to take back our personal power by introducing a morning self-care routine that gives us certainty, no matter what is going on outside, I still have my personal power and I can take care of my heart and mind. The mind needs exercise just as the body needs the mind to think positive thoughts to feel good. It all works together!

When I was healing from PTSD my therapist suggested each time I got triggered (activated), I’d go on a strong walk. That eventually led me to love running and weights because I felt mental clarity when I sweat it all out! I had a way to express all the hurt, frustration, and fear I was experiencing. And you will feel mental clarity if you choose to move your body too. I kid you not, physical movement really is crucial to your mental health! There are countless ways to move. Try out as many forms and then decide on a day-by-day basis what you need. Some days I don’t crave a run. Some days all I can do is stretch, or pilates, or a gentle walk. Tune into yourself.

Let’s pledge to work out and do some sort of physical activity that will get our minds in the right clear headspace and help us feel those endorphins. No more working out to punish your body. These ways don’t lead to lasting change within you. But compassion, gentleness, and kindness will inspire you to take care of yourself. Listen if you even only did a 5-minute walk that would get you to know that you matter and you are worthy of taking care of.

We have the responsibility to take care of our own hearts and minds. I don’t know of any better way than to establish tinny healthy and productive habits throughout the day than enjoying them first thing in the morning. As long or as little as we can handle that day. You have 10 minutes. Good. You have 2 hours. Good! Be flexible. Eventually, your tinny habits will add up to BIG changes. Tinny steps are easier established and executed in the morning when you have a bit of “control” of what you hear, read, say and do. Set out to wake up a little earlier so that you can gain your personal power to BECOMING a better version of yourself!

SHOP MY FAVORITE WORKOUT GEAR

4.- DEVELOP A LIFE-GIVING MORNING BEAUTY ROUTINE

Actually implementing a skincare routine that works for each season is a good idea for your wellbeing and your skin. It will thank you. The skin is such a cool thing. I am a total brain nerd and at the same time, I am a total skin nerd too! I love speaking, learning, and trying things out for both my skin and my mind. I think it’s fascinating the way God made us. Let this encourage you. Everything about you was made on purpose and you taking care of that skin tells your soul you are worthy of love and connection. Instead of waiting for Joe Shmoe to finally make you feel like you’re worth it. You believe God you are. You can show evidence of self-love when you take care of YOU. It can start with something as simple as washing your face. Show up for yourself and see the beauty God created in you.

Take the time to research what it is you personally need for your own skin. Skincare is also super personal but there are many ways you can learn about the needs of your particular skin issues. For me, the thing that keeps me hooked is how responsive the skin is to love, to the right mix of products, and to consistency. I think being consistent is one of the most important aspects of taking care of your skin.

Below I linked all of the products I use on my skin and the Video below is a tutorial of how I use them!

SHOP MY WINTER BEAUTY PRODUCTS

MORNING ROUTINE VIDEO | ENTREPRENEUR + WIFE + MOM

SHOP WINTER MAKEUP PRODUCTS USED IN MY MORNING ROUTINE

5.- GET DRESSED

I am not going to say that I get super fancy every single day. Mkkkkaaaay. Covid has shown us the power of loungewear. However, staying in clothes like that too long or the whole week diminishes your power to be who you want to be. Just commit yourself to getting really dressed a few times in the week. Trust me it will boost your spirit if you’re like me and work from home this is even more important. Let us not live in our sweats, but also in the days when we need the comfort of athleisure or loungewear let us also be #gentle

WINTER OUTFIT EDIT

6.- Connect With People

I KNOW WE’VE BEEN TOLD TO STAY AWAY. Listen, for your mental health please connect with a human being right now. The connection doesn't mean putting yourself or anyone else at risk. That might mean FaceTime or a call if you need to, for the sake of your health or your loved one. But if you’re a healthy person and you’ve just been afraid to go back into the world. Please know your safety isn’t in a mask, it’s in God in Heaven. And he has the numbers of your days in his book. My mother (who has given me permission to share our story) has tried to commit suicide 2 times and God has decided she still lives. I understood the Sovereignty of the Lord by going through such a traumatic event in my life. He holds the power of our lives and no matter what we do if our life’s assignment isn’t over on earth, there is nothing or no one that can take us away.

Loneliness is a terrible feeling, even if you’re alone KNOW that you are never actually alone. Jesus can be your best friend. But I would say if you have no close relationships, ask The Lord to heal your relational wounds and bring healthy relationships into your life. Connection is super important. But we won’t seek connection if we’ve been hurt and not healed. We will always put walls up and blame everyone for not connecting with us. Trust me, I’m a #trustissues recovery girl, I know how painful it can feel to try trusting a person with wounds that haven’t been healed.

You can trust God. He’s never let me down and he will never let you down! Trust the process. It’s challenging and painful but it’s worth it!

God is in control and he is trustworthy. Pray to be in God’s will. Pray for connection. If we continue to be afraid of death through a virus we will be bound by fear of EVERYTHING. Fear grows as you cultivate thoughts of fear. God called us to have faith and he promised us his peace.

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
-Philippians 4:7

When you connect with someone you realize YOU. INDEED. ARE. ALIVE. You are alive and you don’t need to fear your death because if you know Jesus as your Lord and Savior death is only the beginning of a new perfect life. There is assurance. You are safe in God so connect with someone you love or haven’t talked in a while. Be a good friend right. Reach out to people. Make the connection. If they reject you, someone will not. Jesus will always meet your needs and he will be your friend until you know you can trust HIM with your relationships right now. Ask him for true friendships. He is a good father. Trust him!

7.- Organize Your Day By Using A Planner.

This one isn’t so emotionally charged. Hahaha Wow, you thought you were just coming on this post to see about some morning routine ideas. You didn’t know all this deep stuff would be added. LOL I’m intense I know. God made me on purpose with a purpose. I really desire your freedom. But we can also keep it light and simple by getting organized. I love doing a bullet journal to do so!

This is the one pictured!

I love using a journal to keep track of my to-do lists and events. You don’t have to have what I do but figure out some way of planning organization. It really helps to brain dump and put things on a page so you can see clearly what you need to do. Then try your best to get most things done and know there is grace for another day.

Make sure to schedule out things that energize YOU throughout your week. Remember we are adults and we need to learn to meet our own needs. Here are four areas that you might find helpful to see where you need to fill an energy bucket for yourself. Then jot it down and make it a plan so you can have some things you “have” to do and some you “get” to do. Learn and lean into what lives you up. What makes you feel alive?

PHYSICAL (get a massage, workout, go dancing, get a facial, or your hair or nails done, get a faux tan, take a bath or long shower, make a wholesome meal, drink some tea veeeeryyy slowly)
MENTAL: (learn something new, read a new book, journal, therapy session, do a puzzle, build with your kids Lego’s, book a life coach session, coffee with a friend, organize a space in your life)
SPIRITUAL: (Pray, worship, meditate, visualize THE BEST VERSION OF YOU, affirmations, speak out God’s word, read your Bible )
CREATIVE/EMOTIONAL: (make some art, garden, deep conversations with trusted people (journal), go to church, listen to an inspiring-faith building pod-cast, watch a cute puppy video, make bread, paint, write a poem or a song, write that book)

SHOP MY FAVORITE BULLET JOURNAL SUPPLIES

Are you still here? Oh my goodness. You are a ROCK STAR! Seriously this was LOOOOOOOONG POST! I am so proud of you and I am so honored you visited us today. I pray that this post gave you so much value and that you leave here READY FOR 2022 AND BEYOND! You have what it takes! You can do hard things. You are enough. And you are worthy of taking care of.

Leave me a comment and let me know. Which idea will you implement in your morning routine??