This dad is teaching his daughter to love herself and others with a morning mantra.
'Is it gonna be a good day?'
It's important to have morning rituals that help motivate you to take on the day.
Morning yoga on the beach. Photo via iStock.
OK, so not everyone lives near a beach, but don't worry, sun salutations are just as effective in your living room or office as they are at this Instagram-worthy locale.
And your morning motivator doesn't have to be something physical. It could be a few minutes of meditation or reading a few passages of an inspiring novel while sipping your morning coffee. Whatever it is, it should leave you feeling good, which will in turn help the rest of your day go that much better.
That was Ron Alston's notion when he started a morning ritual with his daughter of looking into a mirror and repeating outstanding affirmations.
Photo by Ron Alston, used with permission.
Alston is a YMCA program director and personal trainer in Virginia, and as such, he's always been an advocate for bolstering confidence in easy-to-reproduce ways. He started this ritual with his daughter, Aliya, to build her up each morning and remind her that she's "the greatest."
The ritual actually began with Alston and his father when he was a boy.
"My dad did this with me in the mirror as well, which I believe has helped make me more confident and positive," Alston said.
He started inspiring Aliya before she was born. He'd play her the 1996 Bulls anthem, which any Bulls fan knows is one effective way to get a positivity boost.
When Aliya grew up and started to talk, however, he brought her in front of the mirror and taught her to repeat a few choice phrases that he hoped would fill her with strength. These include "I am strong," "I am smart," "I work hard," "I am beautiful," and "I am respectful."
"The world will try to tear [children] down in many ways, but they must know they are unique and great in their own way," Alston said.
Naturally, the insanely adorable and uplifting video went viral. It's been viewed over 13 million times, and shared more than 360,000 times.
Many parents have thanked Alston for empowering his daughter in this way and declare they too will start similar traditions.
It doesn't have to take much, but a simple ritual like this can make such a difference in your life, in your children's lives, and in the lives of everyone you meet. Taking a moment to evoke your own worth and acknowledge the value of every person you interact with can only make our days brighter.
Watch the father-daughter morning motivation session here:
Morning Motivation Starting off with positive affirmations can set a great tone for how your day unfolds. Learning this from an early age can be very beneficial in the esteem and confidence of a child. We are all Destined for Greatness!
Posted by DFG Health and Wellness on Wednesday, September 7, 2016