Alignment

Our hearts and minds are pushed and pulled by the environment we expose them to. We are constantly drifting. Influenced by every conversation, video, article, image, song, or book we consume.

There are mornings I wake up feeling energized and disciplined. Getting my workout and reading done feels easy and I tackle the day motivated by my purpose and calling. There are other days I wake up feeling selfish, lazy, and unmotivated.

It’s difficult to pinpoint what causes those feelings. I haven’t figured that out yet. But, through experiencing those unwanted thoughts and emotions, I have seen the benefit of finding a way to align myself back with the disciplines and virtues I desire.

It comes down to doing things I don’t want to do. Things I don’t feel like doing in the moment.

Doing these three things in the morning greatly impacts the rest of my day.

1. Exercise

2. Cold Shower

3. Read the Bible & Pray

The first two things force me to tell myself that I do things I don’t want to do. They are both highly uncomfortable, but only for a moment. Once you’re done you feel energized and confident. They help me start the third thing.

Reading the Bible and praying align my heart and mind with the virtues I desire. It encourages you to live in a manner that aligns with how the world was designed. When you seek wisdom and practice it, you build security through the compounding nature of good decisions.

As you spend time in the Bible, you begin to see that it focuses more on heart transformation than it does behavior modification. As our hearts and minds are transformed, the results change the entire trajectory of life.

I don’t feel like doing those things when I’m unmotivated. I think of excuses like “I’m too tired to do it.” The reality is that I’m too tired to feel like doing it. Not too tired to do it.

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