I’m going to share how I get in alignment.
Now, here’s the thing: Your alignment practices will look different from mine, for sure. So keep in mind I’m sharing to give you ideas and spark your thinking.
Let’s start with the importance of coffee
I’ve never been a huge coffee drinker. And I gave up regular coffee a few years ago because I was trying to avoid caffeine. I’m not even sure why now.
But then Hans and I went to Paris for our honeymoon and I was struck by the French approach to eating—and living. The French are all about pleasure and enjoying life. Here’s my take: They don’t drink Venti cups of coffee or carry around a Grande Starbucks all day, but they do indulge in the real stuff. It never occurred to me to ask for decaf in Paris. It just seemed out of sync with what the Universe was flowing me. And I really appreciated indulging in and enjoying the real thing.
Then my Mom gifted us a Keurig. Now, before we got one, I would’ve said it was totally unnecessary and would just clutter the kitchen counter. The individual k-cups seemed wasteful. Who wanted to stock all those little coffee pods? But something magical happened after the Keurig arrived. First, I rediscovered coffee. Now, you can be a coffee snob and tell me the Keurig-brewed coffee is not this or that.
But here’s what I know—for me: A new magical morning routine was born. I couldn’t wait to get out of bed each morning to brew my cup of coffee. I still can’t wait! Talk about eagerness for more. I have a favorite mug. I have this really cool stainless steel 1/4 cup measuring spoon—and that’s how much heavy cream I put in my coffee—1/4 cup. Delicious! I heat the cream in my mug before I brew whatever flavor of coffee strikes my fancy that morning.
I delight in drinking that cup of coffee. I don’t put it in a to go cup to drink on the run. I don’t drink it lukewarm. I sit and savor every last drop of that cup of coffee and it has absolutely become a highlight of my morning. Something I appreciate the heck out of.
In fact, my morning coffee ritual is an essential part of how I get in alignment each morning.
The superpower of appreciation
So, my day starts with that delightful cup of coffee and then next is what feels like a superpower when it comes to alignment. And that’s writing down things I appreciate. I do this in a little notebook that has vintage images of Paris on the cover. These Cavallini notebooks 
With my cup of lovingly brewed coffee, I sit looking out on downtown Ann Arbor and write things I appreciate in my little vintage Paris notebook, which honestly makes me happy just looking at it.
I don’t have a quota to write a certain number of things or length of time I try to write. I just write appreciation until I’m complete. This practice never fails to get me in alignment.
Abraham says, “Every time you praise something, every time you appreciate something, every time you feel good about something, you are telling the Universe, ‘More of this, please. More of this, please.’”
Appreciation is such a pure vibration and really is a super power when it comes to Law of Attraction.
I include all sorts of things in my appreciation notebook. Things like… Work feeling like play, knowing how to read, sounds of the city, feeling loved, monotasking, joking around with Hans, ease of doing laundry, feeling rested and healthy, my new writing desk, margin in my day, feeling inspired, an on-time flight… You get the idea.
“Upon waking, let your first thought be, Thank you.” —Abraham
OK, so here’s the thing: Getting in alignment is personal. What gets me in alignment might be the very thing that knocks you out of alignment. And vice versa.
But if I could encourage one alignment practice, it would be for you to spend a few minutes every morning writing down things you appreciate. It really is a magical way to get in alignment. And it just starts the flow of the Universe to you. I invite you to try it. The more you appreciate, the more you will find to appreciate.
In fact, Abraham says: “If all you did was just look for things to appreciate you would live a joyous, spectacular life.”
I do what feels good
I vary my alignment practices depending on how I feel. If there’s ever resistance to doing something that worked previously to get me in alignment, I don’t try harder or push through. That defeats the whole point of alignment. Non-resistance and a flow state are key. Or more simply put, I just do what feels good.
If that’s a Rampage of Appreciation where I spend 30 minutes writing down everything I appreciate, I do that.
If it’s drawing birds, which I’m really bad at, but nonetheless like to do, then I do that.
If it’s highlighting a Wayne Dyer book and taking notes on index cards, old school, which I totally geek out on, then I do that.
If it’s writing a letter to my intuition, that’s what I do.
If it’s playing the “Wouldn’t it be nice if…” game, then that’s what I do. Wouldn’t it be nice if my weekly blog post were easy to write? Wouldn’t it be nice if I received tickets to the sold out show?
- I get in alignment stocking our carousel with Keurig pods and listening to The Lively Show podcast.
- I get in alignment wearing fabrics that feel good and eating dark chocolate.
- I get in alignment writing letters on French stationery and looking at my vision portfolio.
- I get in alignment wearing perfume, listening to Youtube videos of Abraham, and reading Dwell magazine.
Whatever gets me feeling good, feeling happy, is what I do to get in alignment.
The simplest things
The simplest things can get you into alignment. Petting your dog, watching the snow fall, noticing nature.
“Notice birds—flying outside your window, paddling on a pond, chattering in the shrubs or feeding on the ground. Wildlife can make you smile and inspire your sense of wonder.” —Yvette Jane from Mindfulness for Every Day
Maybe meditating is what gets you in alignment or doing yoga. Walking your dog or people watching. Maybe it’s having coffee with your best friend or learning something new. Journaling or doing a crossword.
Abraham says, “Laughter may be the most profound state of alignment that exists.” So do something that makes you laugh. Watch a rerun of Seinfeld or funny cat videos.
It’s all about finding ways to feel good. Do things that make you happy. Do things that bring you joy.
How will you get in alignment?
