Living by Design: Three Simple Things You Can Be Now!
by Barbara J. Faison

Are you happy with your life? Do you take the time to look at your life and make changes if you don't like what you see? Living on auto pilot means that you do the same things, the same way at the same time sometimes with the same people without even thinking about what you are doing.  Living by design means you are consciously creating the life experiences you want in your life by being fully engaged.  Here are a three ways to start living by design.

Be Alert.  When you wake up in the morning before moving out the bed, take a moment to be grateful for another day. Breathe in and out a few times to get the oxygen flowing to your brain. Thank your body for being alert and awake. Say affirmative words aloud to yourself. One of my morning affirmations: I am alive, alert and awake. 

Be Aware. While still in bed take another moment to become aware of your body. Throughout the night you have been resting in one or two positions for hours.  Appreciate your body by doing a few stretches before jumping out of bed. Try doing 10 ankle rolls,  10 bicycle crunches and 10 lower body twists.  This small activity will get the blood circulating through your body. When you get out of bed, take a deep stretch.  Think about how dogs and cats stretch, they use the entire body.

Be Attentive. Now you are out of the bed and ready to start your day. Once you have done your 5-10 minutes of quiet time or meditation remember to pay attention to your thoughts, energy and how you feel. Engage with life by doing one thing at a time. Be present to what you are doing. If you are talking to someone, give him or her your full attention. If you are driving, be present to that experience. Being attentive allows you to experience everything designed to happen at that time.  You will never have that exact feeling or experience again, revel in each moment.