The direction of my day begins with the thoughts that I reject or embrace as I become awake. From there, the success of my day comes from how I turn these thoughts into actions.

Ruminating 

There is a difference between planning and ruminating. When I am planning, I am actively engaged in the present moment. I am taking action on things that I will do in the future.  When I am ruminating, I am just sticking pins in my brain with the idea that I am somehow seeking a solution.

Releasing my Moods

My thinking is related to my moods. When I am hungry or tired or sometimes for reasons that I cannot identify, my moods go down. After I eat or rest, my moods go up.  

As my moods rise and fall, the thoughts I attach to my moods become more intense. However, by becoming self-aware, I can stop attaching bad thoughts to bad moods. Rather, I can sit still. I can take a deep breath. I can let the mood pass like a cloud. 

Images: Jay Wren