Okay, so I’ve engaged in both Gabby Bernstein’s daily design method, as well as my newly-developed daily wrap-up method, for the past week. And I am here to review! I will say that I didn’t work on these questions over the weekend, as one of the daily wrap-up questions focuses on completion of work-related tasks, and I’m in a space right now where I’m not doing any work-related tasks on Saturdays or Sundays!
But I reflected on, and journaled responses to, these questions during the weekdays.
Overall, I’ve really liked responding to Gabby’s morning questions. The first two questions, asking about how I want to feel and who I want to be that day, really make me think about what service I want to do for myself that day. How can I help myself feel good today? And even responding to those questions in my journal lifts me up - I can feel it. Writing that I want to feel accomplished and at peace already makes me feel those things. The question asking about what I would like to receive today instills a sense of optimism. I feel hopeful to receive whatever I want to receive that day. The final question, asking what I would like to give today, feels necessary because it takes the focus off of myself, and shifts my thinking to considering what I can do for someone else.
As for the nightly wrap-up questions I developed, so far I feel like they have helped me feel more at peace at the end of each day. I do want to note that throughout the day I still have feelings that I didn’t start working early enough, or that I should have gotten more done in that however-long time frame, etc. The nagging feelings didn’t completely vanish, they just bother me during the workday. But responding to the wrap-up questions, which force me to acknowledge everything I accomplished that day, makes me feel like I’m closing the book on those negative thoughts each night. Once I record all of the things I’ve done, I don’t hear them anymore. I go to bed feeling more present as a result of this.
An unexpected side effect of this practice is that I’ve also been writing three things I’m grateful for each morning before I respond to the morning questions. I’ve wanted to be consistent about writing a gratitude list each day, since it’s been linked to increased happiness (click for a great TED Talk summarizing research on this), but I would always forget. However, falling into the routine of answering Gabby’s questions each morning somehow jumpstarted an additional routine of writing a gratitude list each morning. Which is fantastic! Conjuring up feelings of thankfulness for things in your life is a great way to start each day!
To wrap up this post, I’ll continue to engage in this total daily method and report back next week. But so far, this process has shown to boost positive feelings each morning and night, and I’ll take that any day!