create a morning ritual that boosts confidence and style

I would like to start this off by saying that true, unshakeable confidence is a long game. It’s not gonna happen in 15 minutes and boom you’re done. It's about consistency, and that's what this confidence-boosting morning ritual can teach you. Confidence is like almost anything you really want. If you focus all your attention on it and make it a priority, you can achieve it. I truly believe that all style stems from self-confidence, not what you wear but how you wear it.

Yes, some of us have it easier than others in the confidence department depending on how we were raised, who our parents were (or were not) and a million other factors. But that’s not a place we want to dwell. It’s extremely important to acknowledge the past but we can’t change it so we must change how we view it. I can tell you this because I've suffered/still suffer from low self-confidence at times.

Everyone has 15 minutes, or can wake up 15 minutes earlier to create time to change their lives. As you progress you can make this morning ritual as long as you want but to start, 15 minutes is plenty of time to make massive changes. Your mind is going to resist the changes we’re going to make so don’t give it any wiggle room for excuses like I don’t know what to do. I am giving you step-by-step directions right here.

Style-Boosting Morning Confidence Ritual

Wake + Focus (3 Minutes)

The first thing I do when I open my eyes to start right away by thinking good thoughts. This takes practice. You have to remind yourself to change the mental conversation.

I start with gratitude because it’s easy and feels good. I think about how awesome it is that I'm alive for another day, how grateful I am for my bed, for the yummy food I will eat, the hot cup of tea I'm about to drink, the beautiful sunrise... you see where I’m going.

Focus on good thoughts for these first three minutes. This is a precious time, first thing in the morning because your ego is also just waking up and not in full force yet.

Mirror + Mantras (3 minutes)

The next thing I do is hit the bathroom to brush my teeth. I love to use this time to really look at myself in the mirror and repeat some mantras. These should be all the nice things you know to be true about yourself, or you've heard other people say that you know to be true. We are SO hard on ourselves we forget to be nice. These mantras remind us to be nice. I repeat mine all day, but I use this time in front of the mirror while brushing my teeth to go hard and really let them sink (no pun intended) in while looking at myself in the eye. This is one of Louise Hay’s most famous tricks, and she knows a thing or two about self-care.

Sit + Sip (5 minutes + 4 minutes for your beverage of choice)

Now, I hop on over to my kitchen and whip up my morning beverage of choice. For me, that’s hot water with lemon and ginger, for you that could be coffee, tea, matcha, whatever! Then I sit cross-legged in my favorite spot in my apartment — lately that’s been on our porch looking out at the water. While my water is cooling off I close my eyes, put my hands on my knees and start to breathe.

I take huge belly breaths, breathing in for 5 seconds, holding it for five seconds and then letting it out for five. I do this for as long as I feel like it. I promise, even a minute of this will change it all for you. We don’t use our breath like we should during the day, so let's start with some serious deep inhales and exhales in this morning ritual. We are letting our body know we're ready for the day and we can handle anything that comes our way.

Ritualize! (I am not sure if this is a word, but it should be)

It’s so important to create rituals. I know it’s on the verge of becoming overused, but when you make something a ritual you are saying to yourself, your ego, and the world that it’s important to you. Saying that YOU are important and setting your day up for success is like hitting the gym — you hate to do it, but it feels so good after and before you know it...you're in shape.

jodi xx