How half a pan of water motivates me every day

I don’t have a fancy morning routine (unlike those YouTubers with their Jasmine tea)

I just have a pan of water and some powder

What? It’s simple really.

I wake up at 5 A.M. Post brushing my teeth, the first act is to place a saucepan with precisely 1/2 a cup of water in it.

I watch it simmer as I slowly add some coffee powder(coffee purists stay away)

The smell of coffee first thing in the morning is an act of the Gods.

Accompanied by this steaming cup of comfort, I’d find something interesting to read. Sometimes the article gets so interesting I forget to finish my cup of coffee.

A friend of mine during a coaching session of ours asked me “Rainar, what’s your ideal day?”

“I don’t know my ideal day, but I do know my ideal morning” I replied and narrated the above experience to him

To this day, I stand by this statement.

Pure silence in the morning accompanied by a cup of coffee is all I need to say “I’m happy”

That’s when it hit me.

The internet and, by extension society have conditioned us to believe that happiness stems from material things.

The reality isn’t as superficial.

Fortunately, I already have my ideal morning and for that I feel privileged.

Happiness is defined by what drives you. It may be as simple as a cup of coffee and reading an article that gets the wheels going.

But that’s what it comes down to - doing the thing that moves you.

Here’s why I think it works:

1. It’s in your control

2. It doesn’t rely on anyone else

3. It sets the tone for the rest of the day

Everyone has their morning routine. For some, not having a routine is their routine.

Unfortunately, most of us begin our day by doom-scrolling our phones away for an hour

The problem with that?

1. It induces different emotions like anxiety, guilt and a sense of comparison

2. Time goes by without realising anything

3. You’re still in bed

I want you to understand one thing.

Feeling guilty about this isn’t going to help. It’s not your fault that you’re spending hours on your phone. Discipline plays a part but developing it takes time.

Here’s what you can do to start -

Identify the things in your life that move you.

This isn’t something new. It’s the things that already exist. The same way I enjoy my cup of joe, you might have things in your routine you enjoy.

I can’t tell you what it is. That’s for you to find out.

Spend some time figuring out what that is. It’ll be worthwhile.

Revisit your day and observe the common things that happen in your week.

Is it reading a book?

Listening to music?

Learning to code?

It can be anything.

Reminds of the saying by Marcus Aurelius -

“When you arise in the morning think of what a privilege it is to be alive, to think, to enjoy, to love …”

The Stoics were on to something.

However , before I go on a Stoicism spree, I leave you to figure out your pan of water

Until next time

Cheers
Rainar