Prescription #1

Developed by Martha Clarke, “To be taken every day for 30 days to promote health, wealth and happiness.”

[A bit hokey but can be life trance-forming]

Get up early [at least 2 hours before work time].  Immediately read something inspirational for about 10 to 15 minutes.  Then slip on some comfortable clothes and go out for a walk for about 10 to 20 minutes.  Just stroll around and watch the world wake up.  Listen to the quiet turn into sounds.  Look at the sky, the earth, the buildings, and whatever else you encounter.  Realize the infinite care that went into making the universe. Think how much care went into creating you - an infinitely complex human being.  Think of the amazing nature of the body and the mind, and appreciate how truly marvelous life is. Give thanks for all the many things you have to be thankful for.  Give thanks for all your blessings beginning with the people that are most important to you.  Name each person specifically and give thanks for two qualities that they have that endears them to you.  Add one quality they are lacking or need to improve and give thanks for that quality as if they already had it.   Give thanks for your material possessions and for your ability to earn the money to afford those luxuries.  Give thanks for your health, stamina, energy and your enthusiasm [God in me] , and for the good things that will happen to you today..  Think positive, good thoughts about yourself and others - this is the present experience of life, rejoice and be thankful for it.

 The basic rule is: Whatever you emphasize will multiply.  Start right now practicing this rule by thinking about what you want to happen instead of what you don’t want to happen.  Think of events and actions that will help you achieve your goals as if they have already happened. 

 When you return from your walk, take an invigorating shower and dress for the day.  Have a healthy, nourishing breakfast to give you the strength to perform at your best during the day.  Before leaving for work, read your goals and take time to visualize each one.   As you commute to work, listen to a motivational or educational cassette. 

 About midmorning, check yourself to see if you are doing the things that are really important.  Are you adhering to your plan, not just responding to urgent demands?  Take a breather [a relaxation exercise] or engage in some light physical exercise.

 About noon, sit down in a quiet place with the door locked and the phone off the hook and spend 5 to 20 minutes performing a relaxation exercise or meditation.  Have a moderate lunch.  [If you have a lunch appointment do the relaxation exercise just before or after the appointment.] 

 At the end of the day, take a few quiet moments to review the events of your day.   Focus on positive thoughts.  Think about what you did do; not what you did not do.  Say to yourself: I did this, I got that done, and I made a good start on this project.   Think in terms of accomplishment, not in terms of frustration.  Just before you leave the office or as soon as you get home, spend another 5 to 20 minutes performing an exercise that produces a relaxed state.  This will keep you spirits and energy high. 

 Have a sensible, light evening meal.  Enjoy your free time: take a walk and enjoy the clean fresh night air; share quality time with friends and family, engage in a healthy pleasure.  Prior to sleep you will find peace and contentment in reading from an inspirational book. 

 When you go to bed, do it with the idea that you earned the right to a comfortable night’s rest.  Tell yourself, I am going to enjoy this rest, and I will wake with renewed energy and strength.  Whether you go to sleep rapidly or not is of little consequence.  It is your attitude that is important to your getting up the next morning with renewed strength and energy, ready for another good day.  So program yourself with positive thoughts; review the good things that happened during your day; think of the things you accomplished; give thanks for the things you have in your life right now; and visualize your life as you want it to be.