Have you ever watched a swimmer as they dive in to start a swim meet? Have you ever watched a sprinter in the starting block? Have you ever been to a drag race? Does the first split second make a difference? Without a doubt….

The start of your day is as important as any race you will ever run. How do you begin it? When your alarm goes off, do your eyes pop open and you think to yourself, “Today is going to be another great day!” or, like most people do you whack the snooze button ten times, while you doze and grumble about having to get up.

After you’re out of bed, do you focus on the good things you get to experience today? Or, do you mentally mutter to yourself about a chill in the air, that the coffee isn’t made, that you have to go to work today, and that the darned dog needs to be walked!

You can choose to be a fast, positive waker-upper. Or you can be a droopy, slow waker-upper. What you are telling your self in the beginning of your morning is a major factor.

If you are focused on the positive things to come, you get going faster. Energize the first minutes of your morning with a happy, enthusiastic internal dialogue, and colorful, rich mental images of your potential day—starting as soon as you awaken!

Watch what you are focusing on. Be certain you are putting positive thoughts and energy into each moment of your day. It is easier to just let your mind wander where it will. But just like with a child, if you don’t give them boundaries and point them in the right direction, they will probably do things you don’t approve of. Do not allow the negative to just ramble around in your brain.

Be proactive! Leap out of the “starting blocks” of each morning, into your own positive, successful day. Choose to be the reason that your day starts on a positive, up note. Intentionally send your mind that direction.

Start every morning with a smile. Choose it. Make it happen. It’s up to you. Each moment is rich with opportunity. Start strong.