One of my favorite quotes of all time is by Ralph Waldo Emerson. Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities no doubt crept in, forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day, you shall begin it well and serenely.”
How do YOU typically end your days? Do you take time to notice everything you have to be grateful for? Or, do you obsess over all of the little things that went wrong that day? Truthfully, most people aren’t super aware of HOW they end their days...but in my experience as a coach, I notice how many people carry their worries and concerns day after day, as if they’re on some sort of never ending treadmill. I’ve been guilty of that myself and I know how exhausting it can be.
Most days, I consciously try to end my day with a gratitude exercise. It’s very easy and only takes about a minute. If you want to give it a try, here’s how it works:
Before you go to sleep, when you are cozy in your bed...think about all of the great moments from the day such as dancing around the house with your kids, getting a smile from a stranger, being kind to someone, or finally getting a promotion at work. It’s also fun to notice how you’ve grown that day...such as ‘feeling more confident’ in a meeting at work, ‘bravely tackling a challenge’ or ‘being more patient’ with your spouse.
If you find yourself thinking about something that went ‘wrong’ that day, such as being rude to the parking attendant or completely fumbling through a work presentation....try to leave all of that behind (before you go to sleep). Everyone makes mistakes, including you. Don’t take your worries with you into peaceful slumberland. Instead, take a moment to think about how you might improve your actions the next day. Resolving the matter quickly will give you peace of mind. Set an intention to apologize to the parking attendant, for example. If you know you’ll never see him again...then let it go and resolve to be more patient in the future. But, don’t worry about your mistakes day after day.
Give yourself a break before you go to sleep. As the sun goes down, remember...a new day will approach soon. Begin each day, as Emerson suggests, serenely.
Enjoy.