self-empowerment

MY MIRACLE MORNING ROUTINE

March 6, 2018 by Little Miss Honey 1,795 Comments

I have always been a morning person. Since I was young, I love waking up at the crack of dawn before everyone where the world seems silent, new and peaceful. However, as I grew older, I would wake up a little later than usual around 7:30am the earliest and 9:30pm the very latest. When I started living in Singapore, I even struggled a bit more with waking up early because I get really tired from daily commute so I would love longer hours to sleep to rest and sunrise comes later than in the Philippines. We all need a good night sleep. Sleepedia recommends a good mattress for a good night sleep. In Singapore, sun rises around 7am. So waking up at 5:30am is still super dark that you would be tempted to crawl back into your bed & cover your head with a comforter. In the Philippines, sun rises at 5:45am or 6am. I usually enjoy watching the dim horizon slowly brightens with orange-yellowish tone as the sun rises.

I have always heard the benefits of waking up early and have learned that most successful people wake up at around 5am like Tony Robbins, Oprah Winfrey, Robin Sharma, First Lady Michelle Obama, Richard Branson and most CEO like the PepsiCo CEO, Apple CEO, Twitter CEO & Starbucks CEO. I always wanted to start again that early morning waking habit this year. I was hoping it would improve my productivity and lessen my stress level. Juggling work and family can be overwhelming so I wanted to try to practice this habit to see if it can help. My interest in waking up early was ignited again when I chance to browse upon a book in Changi Airport on my way to Manila about waking up early increases productivity and improves the mood. I didn’t buy the book and I even forgot the title of the book & author.

But my desire to learn more about the benefits of waking up early and how to go about it is still pushing me to search for a book to reference to. In one of my unplanned visit to a bookstore, I serendipitously found a book that would convert me into being a member of the Early Risers Club.

I found The Miracle Morning by Hal Elrod. It promises to transform your life before 8AM by practicing the 6 habits that was enumerated in the book. The book is a not so thick book. It is an easy read but definitely delivers and packs a punch. Hal Elrod, a survivor of a fatal accident & enormous debt has turned his life around by applying the 6 morning habits he mentioned in the book.

So let me share with you, his simple 6 morning habits which he used the acronym, S.A.V.E.R.S. Each letter represent an activity you will be doing for 10 minutes for every activity in the morning.

1. Silence

This is 10 minutes of silence. You can use this time for meditation or prayer. Sit in a comfortable chair or on the floor with a warm wool. You can put a soft soothing music or diffuse some essential oils. But remember never do this lying down or else you will fall as sleep. Focus on your breathing. Dont let your mind talk or wander. Just be silent. Silence your mind. Be at peace with the quiet world. Allow inspirations to flow in you unintentionally. You can do all this using meditation techniques or concentrating in a higher power. If you have a strong religious inclination, you can spend this time, concentrating in God’s goodness and love emanating within you.

2. Affirmations

Affirmations are series of sentences or mantra that you repeatedly say to yourself. You can create your own or get some ideas from Pinterest.

You can create affirmations tailor-made to what you want. Here are some The past has no power over me anymore

I embrace the rhythm and the flowing of my own heart.

All that I need comes to me at the right time and place in this life.

I am deeply fulfilled with who I am.

I let go of worries that drain my energy.

I make smart, calculated plans for my future.

I am a money magnet and attract wealth and abundance.

I am in complete charge of planning for my future.

I trust in my own ability to provide well for my family.

I am a unique child of this world.

I have as much brightness to offer the world as the next person.

I matter and what I have to offer this world also matters.

I may be one in 7 billion but I am also one in 7 billion.

*adapted in www.prolificliving.com

It is important you say these affirmations and you truly believe in it.

3. Visualisation

Use this time to visualised your longterm and short time plans coming true. It must be vividly real in your imagination. You can see, hear and feel it coming true. You can visualised how your day is going to go. You see yourself going about the day, you get to watch yourself, see your facial expression, feel your emotions. You can also use this time to look at your vision board. Here is a video of how to create a vision board.

4. Exercise

This is time to make your heart go pumping. This would allow you to put in some exercise regimen into your day even just for 10 minutes. You can do HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training), a 10 min jog, 10 min squatting, 10 min jumping jacks, yoga flow, etc. What I do is Mon, Wed, Fri, I used the app 7 Minute Wellness for Expecting and New Moms by Johnsons & Johnsons. I do the Workout Session, usually for 18 min or sometimes I cut short to 10 min. Tues and Thursday, I choose some cardio dance routine in my Active by PopSugar. Currently, I am loving the Bollywood Cardio Dance. On weekends, I do my usual yoga routine.

5. Reading

Choose a book of your choice. You can read for 10 mins. For me, I usually what I do is I put on a YouTube to some wellness or educational video which I put on my makeup for work. Some can use this time to listen to a podcast or subscribe to audible.com listen to an audiobook for 10 min. If I do not have any work, I would read one chapter of a book. My current book which I am loving now is by Esther Perel, Mating in Captivity. Or I would finish my miracle morning routine on my way to work. (My place is 1 hour and a half away from work) So I can do my 1 chapter of book in the MRT.

6. Scribing

This last activity is about jotting down your thoughts. It could be a form of journaling or making a list. I am a list-maker and a writer so I enjoy this. You can write in your thoughts for the day or create a gratitude list. You can write it in a good old notebook or you can go digital. For me, even if I would prefer to write in a notebook, for convenience, I type it in my Iphone using the Day One app. I do not time this activity and I would often do this in the MRT on my way to work.

This is my formula for this activity is using the acronym: G.A.I.N. I would often reference to the day before this. It is like my review of yesterday.

So G stands for Gratefulness, what I was grateful for yesterday and what blessings I received even the teeniest ones. A stands for Accomplishments, what I have achieved or completed yesterday. I stands for Improvement, what needs to improve in myself, what were my mistakes that I can correct next time I encounter it again. N is short for another acronym NPL (I remember it as No Pay Leave, haha). It means Notes, Plan, Learning. Here I placed what does not belong in GAI. I put what I observed, what I have learned, and my musings for the day before. The great thing about the Day One app you can also put in photos of the day (before).

Tips in Embarking the Miracle Morning

Waking up early is the toughest challenge in starting and continuing this. Dont touch that snooze button! You can put that alarm clock or your phone (if you’re using this as your alarm) on a desk unreachable from your bed so you will be forced to stand up from the bed. You can take a quick shower to wake up your senses or at least wash your face with cold water. I also drink cold lemon water first thing in the morning to jot myself away. It is also very refreshing and perfect for detoxing too. I advised you not to eat yet until you are done with your Miracle Morning routine. One thing I also realised that is my mistake why I wasnt able to achieve the early morning waking up before is didn’t go out of my bedroom so I would end up sleeping in again. After my shower, I would change to my exercise clothes. Then I would turn on the lights in the living room. Before I tried doing meditation in the living room but I never turn on the lights and my body still feels like it wants to sleep again because the world is still so dark. Now, I turn the living room lights and the ceiling fan on. And please do not do all this especially the Silence part, lying down.

Now you would say I cannot commit to 60 mins every day. You can modify it to your lifestyle. You can do 5 min Silence, 2 min Affirmations, 5 min Visualisation, 10 min Exercise, 20 min Reading, 10 min Scribing or 15 min Silence, 5 min Affirmations, 5 Visualisation, 20 Exercise, 5 min Reading, 5 Scribing. You can even 1 min each activity. Yes you can! Combine the Silence, Affirmations, Visualisation for 3 min. Exercise can be 1 min of jumping jacks. Reading can be 1-2 lines in book and Scribing can be one line of what you are grateful for.

You can also interchange the sequence of the habit. You can exercise first then do silence, affirmations, visualisation, reading and scribing. Or you can do SSVARE sequence. There is no hard and fast rules. It is all up to you. But do it in the morning, not night.

Benefits of Miracle Morning

A few days of me doing the Miracle Morning Routine, I noticed how my mood changed tremendously. Nothing can get me down. I was really happy throughout the day. Even if work is piling and I would mess up or little bad circumstances, I was still in a positive high. Plus my productivity increased a lot. I got more things done. I interacted with people better and my relationships improves & deepens. It was like a magic pill.

Though I have to admit, there are times when I didn’t get to do whole routine. And there were a time when I wasnt able to do for 3 straight days. Gosh, my days were so horrible and I was so depressed, stressed and anxious. And my negativity attracted bad circumstances too which made it worst.

I have to warn you though, because of waking up earl, there will be some times when you get so sleepy during the day, usually after lunch or after work. Just hang on, your body will soon get used to it.

So do you want to give this a shot? Let me know if you tried it, yea!

ARE YOU STRONG ENOUGH TO #CHANGEDESTINY?

September 29, 2015 by Little Miss Honey 3,063 Comments

This is a sponsored post by The 7th Chamber in collaboration with SK II

Source

What is Destiny? Destiny is defined as ‘the events that will necessarily happen to a particular person or thing in the future’.e.g.,”She was unable to control her own destiny” (Oxford Dictionaries). When we were younger, we had other people map out our destinies for us. We allow others to shape our futures, forgoing our own decisions, our happiness and our instincts. I guess it’s easier that way. Maybe we are scared of making our own destiny and face the consequences of our own decision-making. So we go with tide and just flow wherever it may take us. We take the map with heavy resignation and never even trying to make a map for ourselves. We accept the notion that we can’t control our destiny and we can’t do anything about it.

But there are a brave few, who challenged this concept of Destiny. There are the inspirational individuals who stood up, raised their hands and said “No, I have the power to #ChangeDestiny“. I have featured before the talented Misa Kuranaga, a principal ballet dancer of Boston Ballet who collaborated with the SK II in their empowerment campaign #ChangeDestiny. Misa Kuranaga challenged the little dictators in her life that she is not cut out in the world of ballet, changed her destiny and became an inspiration in the world of ballet. Now SK II is continuing to empower the world and introduced a few more inspirational women who exemplifies #ChangeDestiny.

Another brave soul that exemplifies #ChangeDestiny is Priscilla Shunmugam. She is born in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia to an Indian father and Chinese mother. Like more children, she was predetermined to take on a profession that most people find honourable and praiseworthy like being a doctor, a lawyer, an engineer, etc. – those professions with titles. So by age 20, she took up law and later became a lawyer.

But Priscilla listened to the silent yearnings of her soul and she knew that she have a different calling. It is not only through law or medicine that someone can excel. Each one of us has a special function to contribute to the world, excel and be brilliant – title or no title. Priscilla knows that her passion lies elsewhere. So in 2008, she packed her bags and headed to London to study dressmaking and fashion. Fast forward to today, Priscilla Shunmagan is now the proud founder of the Ong Shunmagan Collection, a collection of modern cheongsams. In 2012, she was voted Singapore Designer of the Year at the 2012 Elle Awards in Singapore. She came a notable and respected fixture in the fashion world.

Priscilla Shunmagan showed that we can definitely #ChangeDestiny, be true to ourselves and still make our parents proud. We owe it to ourselves to follow our passion and listen to our hearts’ calling. As Confucius said, “Choose a job that you love and you’ll never a work a day in your life“. And I believe that Priscilla is enjoying her life as a fashion designer. I don’t think she is spared with the stresses and challenges of a life as a successful fashion designer and businesswoman but she deals with it without any remorse or apathy. Because now she doesn’t feel empty. She is where is suppose to be because she is courageous enough to #ChangeDestiny.

For more of Priscilla’s story, watch this video:

Priscilla’s story is close to my heart. I, too, grew up with people encouraging me to be a doctor. But throughout my growing up years, my passions lies more into performing arts and writing. Though I had my stint of solos and lead roles in my elementary years and I had kept my tattered manuscripts of unfinished novels when I was younger, I took the map that was predestined to me and became a doctor. Though I think I have accomplished my goal to be a doctor, those other passions that are still lurking in the deep crevices of my heart are still waiting to be tapped. And somehow stories like Priscilla’s allows me to be more courageous and follow my passion. I guess that is one reason why I started this blog. I still get to have an outlet of that little writer in me – A person who loves to string words into ideas and beautiful stories. And maybe someday soon, I can also like Priscilla, and #ChangeDestiny.

I am so pleased that SK II, one of the world’s leading skin care company continues to inspire and empower women of today to be their best version of themselves and strive to follow their passion.

My question to you now is, “Are you also strong enough to #ChangeDestiny, too?“

#CHANGEDESTINY AND OVERCOMING THE “LITTLE DICTATORS” IN LIFE

April 13, 2015 by Little Miss Honey 1,461 Comments

Do you hear that voices telling you that you can never get that offer? Or that you are not pretty or intelligent? Or that you will never be happy? Or you will never find your passion in life or get your dream job? You stare at the mirror and slowly believing the many lies that these “little dictators” say about us. These “little dictators” may be our genetics or the societal norms that tells us where our life path should take. But I tell you it is time to tell the voices to keep quiet because you and me are in control now and we will #ChangeDestiny

SK II unveils its biggest empowerment campaign to date, #CHANGEDESTINY, which reminded me how I overcame the “little dictators” in my life when I was younger. ″

When I was younger, I am in a school where I never felt I ever belong. Everyday I was reminded that I am not rich enough, I am not pretty enough, and that I am not intelligent enough. As I successfully led my school life as a nobody, my music teacher discovered that I can sing, so she started giving me solos for school programs and concerts.

One morning in a camping trip organized by the school, my classmate called me that I was called to go in the bigger tent. There they are: the seniors of the school, the queen bees, the pretty ones & the honor rolls. I think there are around 7 of them, I couldn’t recall. They called measly little me in their presence to say that they don’t like me. They said, “I should stop trying to be like the star of the school because I will never be. ” I never understood why they would bother to trap me inside that tent and make me feel bad. They were four years my senior. I felt bullied and I cried the whole week after that. I never asked to be on the limelight nor did I acted high & mighty or arrogant. Suddenly, I believed in what they all said to me and I slowly dimmed my light. I believed in the external and internal dictators of my life until the light in me turned pitch black. I concealed my brightness and stopped shining.

But one fateful moment a year before changing school, I listened to a new teacher talking about living your best life and taking control of our own life, I realized that I should stop listening to the “little dictators” and that I should be holding on the steering wheel of my life. I have the power to #changedestiny. No one can say that I am never enough and that I will limit myself because of genes, social status, other people’s opinions, etc. Then, I made a decision that I will be in control of my destiny.

Inspite of the many obstacles, I am now a doctor and currently working as one here in Singapore. I didn’t limit myself from the busyness of my profession, I am also a lifestyle blogger and do freelance writing. I am also a mother and a wife. I always make time for my family. I cook for them and spend quality time with them. I also never accepted the society’s definition of pretty. I am very small woman with acne-prone skin but taking control of what you can change & accepting what you cannot, empowers me. You are beautiful because you believe you are beautiful. All of these are possible because I believe that I can #ChangeDestiny

This year, SK II aims to empower people to go beyond their limitations and #ChangeDestiny featuring acclaimed ballet dancer, Misa Kuranaga.

The global launch unveils her inspiring story how she overcame the “little dictators” in here life and achieve professional success.

Watch as she shares a snippet of her journey in becoming the Principal Dancer of Boston Ballet.

Misa Kuranaga was not born a ballet dancer but she chose to #changedestiny. never allowed the odds to hinder here from being the amazing ballerina that she is today. She is the first Asian to be Boston Ballet’s Principal Dancer.

All image credits: SK II

SK II inspires and reminds me that we can #ChangeDestiny. I maybe a doctor today but I can be something else if I want to someday because I am in control of my destiny. SK II believes in empowering people of today to overcome their limitations and be a captain of our own destiny.

So, are you ready to #ChangeDestiny?

More about SKII and #ChangeDestiny, head to www.sk-ii.sg

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post in collaboration with SK II. I only accept sponsored post which parallels my blog’s manifesto and I believed would be beneficial to share with my readers.