How Breaking Routine And Unexpected Acts of Kindness Can Energize Your Day!

Home
>
Motivation
>
How Breaking Routine And Unexpected Acts of Kindness Can Energize Your Day!

How Breaking Routine And Unexpected Acts of Kindness Can Energize Your Day!

Sometimes life becomes so routine, we don't have to think about a thing we're doing throughout the day. We're programmed to run on automatic. It's important to shake things up every once in a while to get the creative juices flowing, give us an added boost of energy or give us something to concentrate on for a change.

When routine sets in, particularly in relationships, we can't always see the impact it has until we throw a new ingredient into the mix. This week, I ventured outside of my regular routine, and performed a very unexpected act of kindness. The results were terrific!

Picture it, Cicely, 1945 ? oops, wait, wrong story ...

Picture it, Northern Ontario, Winter 2004. It's Friday morning, snow is falling, there is a nip in the air and neither my husband nor I want to get out of our toasty warm bed to get ready for work.

We go through the same exercise every morning. We both wait for the other one to get up first to turn up the furnace, then he heads to his washroom to get ready and I go into my office to meditate for half an hour.

This morning, however, neither of us would budge. He didn't want to get up, shower, make breakfast and prepare lunches, and I didn't want to meditate, go through my agenda for the day and start prioritizing my long list of outstanding tasks. We were stuck.

I must have been desperate or temporarily insane because I suddenly blurted out, "Hey! You get up and get ready and I'll make you breakfast today!" He was stunned at first and didn't say a word, then started laughing, "Yeah right. What about your meditation?" For anyone who knows me, there are two things I don't do ? cook (unless I'm in a real bind) and deviate from my routine.

I insisted I was going to cook for him ? anything he wanted. Eggs, bacon, you name it! There will be no meditating today. He hesitantly agreed and headed for his washroom, wondering if his dear partner had been possessed during the night and lost complete leave of her senses. The last time I made him breakfast was, hmmm, let's see ? when was the last time the Oilers won the cup?

I whipped up a hearty breakfast and while he ate, he repeatedly commented on how he couldn't believe I had done this. He thanked me several times.

Once I had finished in the kitchen, I went to my room to start getting ready for work. I could hear him singing and talking to himself in the kitchen. I called out to him, "You're happy, aren't you?" and he answered, "My baby made me breakfast!"

It was amazing how performing a small task for the benefit of someone else made such a BIG impact! My husband was excited and happy, and I felt fantastic for making him feel appreciated and loved.

For the remainder of the day, I was a fireball. I joked with everyone at work and had them laughing and feeling great. The day flew by. I accomplished loads of work and had tons of energy.

When my husband got home from work, he told me about his great day, how he was zinging off one-liners at the guys and making them laugh, and how good he felt, mentally and physically.

Changing our routine and experiencing an act of kindness elevated both of us mentally, physically and emotionally. It is no secret that change and giving to others boost our energy levels, but we get so caught up in daily living that we easily forget. We fall into the comfort zone of habit.

Today is a new day. What can YOU do differently? Take a different route to work? Part your hair on the left instead of in center? Take the stairs instead of the elevator? Whatever it is and no matter how small, change makes a positive impact.

What can YOU do for someone else today? Something completely unsolicited and without expectation. If you're going through the drive-thru at the coffee shop, pay for the coffee for the driver behind you. If you see someone struggling with her bags at the grocery store, lend a hand. The simplest act of kindness will reap big rewards for the giver, receiver and everyone they touch throughout the day.

Laurie Hayes is a Life Strategy Coach and owner of Where the Heart Is Life Coaching. She works with people who want to live life more authentically and on purpose. She can be reached at http://www.wheretheheartis-lifecoaching.com

In The News:

Irish Win Record 39th Straight at Home
New York Times, United States - 11 hours ago
“We knew coming into this game that there was something to play for and that gave us a little extra motivation,” said McAlarney, who led the Irish with 32 ...

Chiefs provide Raiders true motivation to run
Sacramento Bee, USA - Nov 30, 2008
"It gives us a little extra motivation to play for because when you have hard times, it's tough to find that extra motivation. We're playing at home against ...

Disease is motivation, not obstacle, for Center Grove senior
Indianapolis Star, United States - Nov 28, 2008
But I use that as a motivation to work harder and push myself through conditioning." That dedication is inspiring to others around him, Center Grove coach ...

Don't let motivation to conserve fall with fuel prices
Bloomington Pantagraph, USA - Nov 29, 2008
When gasoline was selling for $4 a gallon there was greater motivation to address those problems, just as there was when the fuel crisis of the 1970s hit ...

New York Daily News
AU should have plenty of motivation
Times-Journal, AL - Nov 28, 2008
Then again, the Tigers should take the field at Bryant-Denny Stadium with plenty of motivation. - With a win, Auburn will become bowl eligible. ...
Iron Bowl is motivation for injured Auburn players Tuscaloosa News (subscription)
Tide has been scouting Florida for awhile Anniston Star (subscription)
Tide, Tigers Have Different Motivations BamaMag.com
Opelika Auburn News - Tuscaloosa News (subscription)all 1,083 news articles

Seattle Post Intelligencer
Motivation, Tebow and Percy-cution
GatorCountry.com, FL - Nov 28, 2008
Percy Harvin turns on the jets and heads to the end zone against South Carolina/Gator Country Photo by Tim Casey. The year was 1968 and the fifth-ranked ...
No. 2 Gators hammer rival FSU again, 45-15 The Associated Press
Storming to Atlanta: No. 2 UF heads for showdown with No. 1 'Bama ... Independent Florida Alligator
Tebow: The Ultimate Warrior DawgsBite.com
Swamp Things - Gatorsports.comall 931 news articles

Longmont Daily Times-Call
Colorado kicks itself after loss
Omaha World-Herald, NE - Nov 28, 2008
It's going to be hard to watch, but it's going to give us motivation to make sure it never happens again." Colorado (5-7, 2-6) looked bowl-ready after the ...
Buffs say heartbreak will be motivation Boulder Daily Camera (subscription)
'Angry' Buffs Stunned By Last-Minute Loss Nebraska StatePaper.com
Hypolite delivers for CU Daily Camera
all 16 news articles

BBC Sport
Oscar De La Hoya on his motivation for fighting Manny Pacquiao
Doghouse Boxing, Canada - Nov 29, 2008
In regards to De La Hoya's motivation for the fight, De La Hoya recently stated: "At this stage of my career, the biggest motivation I have is my family. ...
De La Hoya seeks return to his peak Las Vegas Review - Journal
Golden Boy set to play Pacman Independent Online
Manny Pacquiao Media Interview Transcript BoxingScene.com
Inquirer.netall 261 news articles

HIGH SCHOOL HOOPS, REGION 4: Cougars use two-win season as motivation
Bowling Green Daily News, United States - Nov 29, 2008
By WES WATT, For the Daily News RUSSELLVILLE — Don’t blame the Logan County boys’ basketball team if it wants to forget last season’s 2-25 campaign. ...

Christmas Diet Motivation (Jig Saw puzzle)
Beliefnet.com, NY - 23 hours ago
Today's 'Get Jiggy' jigsaw Our Lady of Weight Loss puzzle is inspired by the season! Yes, today is the last day of November ... tomorrow is December. ...

motivation - Google News

How Breaking Routine And Unexpected Acts of Kindness Can Energize Your Day!

Motivation Motivation