Over the past few years, I have slowly developed a system or routine that I try to stick to daily. Successfully completing it gives me a sense of purpose, growth, fulfilment, and happiness. It also sets me up on a daily basis to program my mind and body for the best chance of success.

I have read and listened to multiple successful people talk about their keys to success. Many of them have identified their morning routine as a crucial part of the formula. After hearing it enough times and considering it over in my mind, I slowly put it into practice. After attempts at journaling, affirmations, mantras, and various breathing techniques, I have found what works for me. Although I don't think this is the perfect process for me yet, it works wonders and really helps my mind, body, and soul.

• Wake up at 04:00 - One of the most important parts of the morning process is winning the wake-up. I usually wake up a little earlier than my alarm, but as soon as I see 04:00, I am up, straight out of bed, to win the first battle with my chimp/instinctual mind.

• 04:00 - 04:10: I'm in the bathroom washing up, brushing my teeth, and completing my skincare routine.

• 04:10 - 04:40: Stretching - my stretching routine, especially in the morning, consists of a range of hinge and back-opening stretches while warming up the legs, hips, and core.

• 04:40 - 05:00: Meditation - My meditation took a while to get used to. At first, I struggled to sit still and listen to my own mind for more than 5 minutes. As time has gone on, I have learned to better listen to my mind and now look forward to this moment. I sit still, sometimes listening to vibrational sounds, sometimes focusing on breathing, most of the time in complete silence. I have also been reading more about chakras and the different hand positions that can be utilized to open different energies, which I am incorporating. At the end of the 20 minutes, I slowly come to and practice my breath work. I still have a long way to go, but the focus is on diaphragm breathing and quick pulse releases to increase my strength in that area. What I find amazing during this period is the fact that I am simply asking myself questions and giving myself the time and opportunity to discuss the pros/cons and aspects of the idea, issue, or thought. I rarely exit my meditation without feeling a sense of well-being and couldn't recommend this more.

• 05:00 - 05:20: Learning - Lately, I have been choosing different topics daily and simply watching or reading a 15–20-minute lesson on it. Currently, my focus is on different philosophers. This morning was Montaigne, a philosopher I hadn't actually heard of before. What was really interesting about his approach was his ideology on scepticism, holding yourself accountable, and growing through self-evaluation and process. He was a very interesting person, and I will definitely be diving deeper into learning more about him.

• 05:20: I prepare and drive to Jiu-Jitsu - Jiu-Jitsu starts at 05:45 and goes for an hour and 15 minutes. I will go deeper into Jiu-Jitsu another day, as this has had a significant impact on my life and contributed greatly to my search for happiness. One of the most fulfilling parts of the class is rolling. In the middle of a roll, when you're tired, hurting, and someone is trying to choke you unconscious, I feel a strange sense of freedom. For periods of the roll, when you're under immense pressure, you are completely free from the world. In the midst of the battle, as you're completely locked into the moment, a sense of peace can be found, as you release all of your worries from the world.

This is what my ideal early morning looks like before work or life begins: physical and mental warm-up/development, mental awareness and self-knowledge, learning, growth, and struggle. I'm still figuring out what it all means and the fundamental elements of each, but I know that they make me feel a great sense of purpose and happiness. There is a deep connection to a spiritual sense of self among them that contributes greatly to this. Behind each is a lesson to be learned and possibly an answer in my search for happiness. I'm not saying this is the key, but I hope there is something in there that may point you in a direction towards it too.

Thanks,

Dean