When you woke up this morning what did you do? What did you think? Did you grumble? Did you let the alarm clock buzz/chime/squawk at you? Did it rattle or soothe? Did you hit the snooze hoping the day would go away?

I don’t know about you, but the alarm clock for me is one of the most jarring devices in the world. I don’t want to be alarmed when I wake up. I want to wake up gently and at peace with myself and the world. Whether you use the alarm or your favorite rock station, is that really the way you want to enter your day? Even a soft and soothing alarm is still starting your day by giving something outside of you control over the way your day begins.

You create your day. You create the mindset that creates your day. Did you know that if you practice you can set your inner alarm clock and never again need to be rattled out of a deep sleep? Start on the weekends. Just before you go to sleep tell yourself what time you would like to wake up.  Don’t stress about it and don’t worry if it doesn’t work at first. Keep practicing at every opportunity. You can actually wake up the minute you tell yourself to do so. Set your inner alarm clock for an odd time like 8:12 a.m., for example. When you wake up, roll over and look at your clock to see what time it is. If you’re on time, have a little internal celebration. If you aren’t shrug it off and tell yourself you’ll keep trying until you get it.

The alarm clock is only part of changing the way your world works. Upon awakening, what were the first thoughts that flowed through your head? Are you leaping into the midst of yesterday’s worries and frays? Are you feeling anxious before the day even begins? Here’s a thought. Take just a moment to say thank you - thank you to yourself, to your Higher Power (whatever you deem that to be), and to the world. Be grateful for the day to come, for the experiences that will come your way. Affirm that today you are guided by a power greater than yourself and that power desires only good for you and loves you magnificently. If you are dubious, let me suggest this. Just try it. Just see what happens. If you are agnostic or atheist, just say thank you to the air that you breathe, to the world inside your home and waiting outside for you. Welcome the day with a smile.  If the experiment doesn’t change your day, doesn’t start you out with a little more peace, you can always start the next day with fretting, frowning, grumbling and grimacing. If it works, try making it a habit. It won’t cure all the bad days, but it may give you a little bit of peace and equanimity to carry you through the various crises, small and large, that cross your path.