My 4 easy daily-steps to inspiration and a fabulously creative life!

I’m excited to share with you the brief (but powerful!) early morning routine, that has not only kept me inspired and creative (which for this business is more than critical!), but is responsible for an unexpected inner-growth that has made me a better Artist, business woman, wife, friend, daughter and slowly but surely, my very own best friend.  This, in turn, has lead to many wonderful things here at VeruDesigns, that through actions only, would’ve never happened.

In a nutshell, this routine places me in the emotional and mental state  that I need to be, to:

• Allow creative ideas to find me. That’s right. I’ve come to know that inspiration is already all around us, all the time. But we are either blind to it or not. This routine makes sure I’m “awake”. My best design ideas, most accurate precision when making a piece, the most spot-on ideas and impulses to call or meet someone that has enormously benefited VeruDesigns has happened because of this.
• Brings peace to my day no matter what is happening around us. We cannot be effective nor creative in a state of stress or worry. And we cannot always control circumstances. But we can control how we react to them. And all circumstances have a gift within them. This routine allows me to find the gifts…quickly! And it has proven to be a life-saver over the last few years, especially in my personal life. It’s kept my heart open, strong, but full of love, for myself and my family when my family lost my brother, when my mother almost lost her life after being diagnosed with a heart problem, and anytime my family, friends, business (and myself!) has needed me.
• It makes me feel in control and confident, and ACT as such throughout my day, from an authentic place.
• It has transformed the relationship with my own physical body into a love story, by making me fall in love with all my lovely imperfections. It has allowed me to have an incredible ease with the passing of time, and build a very strong trust in my body’s ability to stay in a balanced place of health and wellbeing.
• In the process has opened me to new strengths, passions, skills, I had no idea I had in me.

The 4 steps that are part of this routine, are the very first thing I do as soon as I wake up. This is very critical, because when we wake up is when our mind is the most rested and less distracted from the worries, stresses and concerns of our every day life. The routine itself can take me up to 45 minutes, and if I want to, and have the time, up to an hour. But is worth every second of it. There are times (like this morning!), when I’m particularly busy, and in those cases I choose two steps out of the 4, and start my day.

But, I do it. Not because I have to, but because it positions me to enjoy a fulfilling day no matter what comes my way!

1. Meditation:

I always start the routine with a 5 or 10 or 15-minute meditation. I do this first because quieting the mind is absolutely critical to be in a “receptive mode” for the remaining 3 steps.  Mostly I do a music meditation that I find on youtube. I sometimes do a guided meditation as well, but I mostly enjoy more the silence of my mind and my own guidance.

2. Affirmations:

When I finish my meditation I immediately begin reading affirmations that remind me of the larger truths in life, that resonate with me strongly. Affirmation have only any use to a mind that is quiet, or in peace. Don’t attempt this if you’re in the midst of a stress or worry-attack!

I use my phone to collect affirmations that I find online, and save them as “favorites”. Not all affirmations resonate with me all the time, this is why I allow my intuition to skip or read the affirmations that suit me best. This exercise alone is quite powerful, because it instructs your mind to not only focus, but to activate the right-side of your brain during the day as you process all that happens to you, without the left-side automatically taking complete control over you (by assessing everything based on past experiences and projections into the future).

3. Journaling:

Normally, after finishing my affirmations I feel excited and exhilarated. I feel in peace, knowing that no matter what happens during the day, everything is and will be alright. When you feel this way (and only when one feels this degree of peace), it’s extremely easy to begin looking at your current life and circumstances and find blessings everywhere.

Writing is also very powerful, because it forces you to make your thoughts very complete and concrete. During my journaling I write:

• – 5 things I love/appreciate about my life right now.
• – 3 things I love about myself.
• – I think of someone that I have judged the day before, or someone I’ve felt has been unfair to me (even if it was only in my mind). Then I forgive them and most importantly, I forgive myself, and give this person a virtual hug.
• – I think of 1 decision I made yesterday that I would like to thank myself for.
• – One thing I would like to accomplish today.
• – I think, visualize and fully imagine something I desire in my near future and 3 years from now.

When I’m short in time, I journal in “my mind” (rather than in writing). It’s not as impactful, but still very powerful.

4. Dancing!

And then, it’s time for DANCING! Or running, or a quick but fun workout. This is all about enhancing the flow of oxygen into the brain. As you may know, when we’re worried or stressed, there is less oxygen in the brain, and the simple exercise of inhaling and exhaling can make us feel better.

But dancing is my favorite! I feel FREE, silly, and very happy!

Again. I not always do all 4 steps of my routine. But more often than not I do most of them. I don’t believe that this routine is “the” routine to set you up for a successful day, but I’m hoping it will inspire you to find what will work for you. The bottom line is deciding that “feeling good, strong, in peace” is a priority in your life  (because it is! you have nothing to give others if you’re not ok), and find any activities that will ease your way into those feeling places.

One last thing: I would like to publicly thank my husband, Cliff Stevens, who got me started with this life-changing routine. He’s done it not by telling me to do it, but by sheer example. I’ve seen him transform his health, mindset and reach amazing accomplishments thanks to the seeds he plants in his soul and mind every morning.

What do you think? I would love to read your thoughts. Do you have any other routines? I’d love to hear your experience.

Stay well, stay happy, stay healthy, stay as the lovable, kind, positive and one-of-a-kind person that you are.

I’ll be in touch in 2 weeks!