Starting out with good
Our thoughts are the real fuel by which we get through the day, and only we, ourselves, can consistently give them a foundation of good that guides our experience.
The sun breaks through along Route 4 in Woodstock, Vermont. (Gareth Henderson Photo)
It’s easy to be swept up in the energy that seems to be prevalent today. From the pandemic, to economic woes and the sense of division in Congress and the country, there’s a troubling weight to current events.
But, especially now, the most important daily consideration is what we allow to exist and grow in our thinking. Our thoughts are the real fuel by which we get through the day, and only we, ourselves, can consistently give them a foundation of good that guides our experience. Years of working in a newsroom environment taught me this quite well, because the news cycle often brings you topics which are difficult to hear. Creating a routine that brings positive momentum to your day is critical, because it sets it on a positive trajectory based in goodness. It also brings reassurance that good is always available and able to lead us forward — a good reminder to have when we grapple with the more difficult topics of life.
As we embrace a positive start to the day, it’s also important to have aspects of our day that inspire us. Throughout recent months, I’ve increasingly appreciated how important this is, because it lends a kind of freedom to thought that grows joy in our hearts. We can always use more joy. For me, in the summer and fall, I found that joy in playing tennis, and, later, regularly revisiting old matches I used to watch in earlier years. It was a rediscovery of how much I love that sport, and it’s something I plan to continue.
This all comes down to remembering what’s foundational to our well-being, even amid the constant busy-ness of daily life. There are important moments in each day, and the most critical one is right after we awake. Starting our day on a positive track, and keeping our thinking inspired for the better, is a sure way to welcome good into our lives and share the resulting joy with others. It can be easy to forget what we need most, but if we remember to plant the seeds of good early in the day, there’s no better way to build the groundwork for daily inspiration, harmony and progress.
— Gareth Henderson