Did you wake up this morning grateful, excited and ready to tackle whatever comes your way today?

Let’s face it, not everyone wakes up on the right side of the bed each morning.  Yet how we start our day often sets the mood for everything else that follows.

If you’re less-than-excited about getting moving in the morning, decide to start each new day with an attitude of gratitude.

Here’s an idea from Tim Sanders’ blog “Sanders Says“:

Don’t leave your attitude and mood to chance, they are important! When you are in a great mood, filled with gratitude, your day will be more effective (and enjoyable).

About six months ago, I put myself on a new wake-up plan that’s changed my life.  When I first wake up, I lay back down and close my eyes and concentrate on three people I should be grateful for from the previous day.

It could be a helpful co-worker.  My wife.  A friend who gave me some good advice.  I think and think until I’ve come up with three people.  I focus on their positive intentions to help me be successful or happy.  I say out loud “Grateful for ____.”  Then, I get up and over coffee, write down one sentence to capture my gratefulness for those three people.  In the beginning, I struggled to always find three helpful people from the previous day, especially if I was writing in seclusion.  But soon I realized that everyday is filled with people helping us along.  Now, I struggle to limit myself to three.

Give it a try tomorrow and see how it changes your mood.  An attitude of gratitude will give you renewed hope and confidence.

For extra credit, decide to live today in such a way that others will wake up tomorrow and be grateful for you!