This article is an excerpt from the Shortform book guide to "The Miracle Morning" by Hal Elrod. Shortform has the world's best summaries and analyses of books you should be reading.
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Does your day start with chaos or calm? What is Miracle Morning meditation, and how might these moments of silence make a difference for your whole day?
In The Miracle Morning, meditation is one of the ingredients of a powerful morning routine. Author Hal Elrod provides a simple five-step process to get you started.
Read more to learn how you can practice Miracle Morning meditation to set a healthy tone for the day.
Why You Need Miracle Morning Meditation
To reduce your stress and begin each day with calm, clarity, and focus, do the opposite of what most people do—start with a period of silence. This is the Miracle Morning meditation.
For most people, early mornings are either: 1) hectic—you have a million things on your mind, or 2) slow—you feel lethargic, lazy, and have trouble getting started. Neither is a productive way to start your day. In contrast, starting with purposeful Miracle Morning silence will allow you to focus on what’s most important in your life.
There are at least five ways to practice Miracle Morning silence: meditation, prayer, reflection, deep breathing, gratitude. You can start your Miracle Morning with just one of them or combine them. Many people choose meditation.
What Is Meditation?
Basically, meditation is the practice of quieting and focusing your mind.
There are countless books and videos you can consult for step-by-step instructions. Meditation requires little time, yet offers numerous health benefits for just minutes a day—for instance, improving metabolism, blood pressure, and brain function; reducing stress and pain; and improving sleep and concentration. Many celebrities and high achievers—for instance, Oprah, Jerry Seinfeld, and Sting—attest to the benefits.
In general, there are two types of meditation: individual and guided. Individual meditation is done on your own, while the guided version is done by following audio instructions to focus your mind.
5 Steps to Start Your Miracle Morning Meditation
If you need help getting started, here’s a simple process for Miracle Morning meditation:
1) Find a quiet, comfortable place to sit: a couch, chair, pillow, or the floor.
2) Sit upright with your legs crossed; close your eyes or look down at the floor.
3) Quiet your mind by letting go of intrusive thoughts, worries, and anything preoccupying you. Focus on “just being” rather than on thinking or doing.
4) Focus on breathing: take slow, deep breaths, inhaling through your nose and exhaling through your mouth. Breathe from your belly rather than your chest. Inhale and exhale for a count of three. When thoughts cross your mind, acknowledge them and let them go. Keep focusing on your breathing.
5) Be present in the moment. If you have trouble quieting your thoughts, focus on a word or phrase, repeating it to yourself as you inhale and exhale. (For example, “I breathe in peace… I breathe out love.”)
Think of your daily Miracle Morning silence as a mini-retreat from your problems. Although your problems won’t go away, you’ll be able to handle them more calmly and effectively.
At first, sitting in silence may be difficult, but you can master it with practice. Start with about five minutes. It won’t be long before you begin to experience the benefits of Miracle Morning meditation. (Shortform note: For a deeper exploration, read the Shortform summary of Mindfulness in Plain English here.)
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Like what you just read? Read the rest of the world's best book summary and analysis of Hal Elrod's "The Miracle Morning" at Shortform .
Here's what you'll find in our full The Miracle Morning summary :
- How getting up early and following a simple, daily routine can empower anyone to transform any area of their life
- How Elrod's "Life S.A.V.E.R.S." routine can help you feel energized and motivated
- Why hitting the snooze button is comparable to resisting your life
