In the last 6 to 7 years, I’ve accomplished some difficult tasks: I’ve lost 23 kg of body weight, completely quit alcohol, earned a degree in Computer Science Engineering, and achieved some other things that I won’t explain here. However, if someone asks me right now, “What was the hardest thing you did during this time?” I would say that waking up at 5 am every day for no apparent reason is the hardest thing I did in a long, long time. Yes, it was harder than the diet and more challenging than the endless study sessions studying algebra on the weekends while my friends were hanging out. It has also been the catalyst for the rest of the things I’ve accomplished. Let me explain why.
When you wake up early because of your work, your kids, or because you have something to do, you are literally waking up for other people. This is especially true if you tend to oversleep during weekends and holidays. But if you are able to wake up every day just for the sole purpose of self-improvement and personal growth…wow…that is a strong message you are sending to yourself over and over again. That is self-love and self-respect. You are becoming someone different, someone who gives priority to the inner self no matter what, and you remind yourself you are different every 24 hours.
And here comes the best part: you can do whatever you want with that extra time. I do some stretching/yoga, meditate for 15 minutes, prepare an amazing breakfast, and head to the gym. By 9 am, I am unstoppable. By 10 am, I think I am the best. By lunchtime, I’ve already killed the day! All of that in a semi-meditative state, feeling like someone who is in love.
And because of that feeling, I am better prepared to help and love others.
Once the day is over, and I am in bed, it will take less than 3 minutes to crash. Even if I try to think about something negative that happened that day, I could not.