I remember being sat in the sixth form common room at school discussing with friends what we wanted to do in the future after we had finished school, graduated Uni and started our ‘real lives.’ We all had different plans and different goals…different roads that we wanted to go down - however there was one thing that we all unanimously agreed on…we all wanted to ‘change the world’ and do our part for humanity.
The end of school rolled around and many started University. Three years of stress, finding your feet and feeling more independent and freer than ever before! – three of the best years just zoomed by and then graduation happened! All of a sudden ‘real life’ begins and we are to start changing the world…only problem? The vast majority of us have no idea how.
In this article I am not claiming to have solved any fantastic mystery regarding changing the world, or to have any new and INCREDIBLE scientific discovery to share with you. What I wish to share is much simpler; and a principle that most of us have been taught since childhood.
I have heard it said “By small and simple things, great things are brought to pass” – a statement that I wholeheartedly agree with. I recently watched a FANTASTIC motivational video that I believe highlights this statement perfectly. In this video the speaker claims to have discovered one of the greatest secrets of success known to man. Now, of course this captured my attention, as I imagine it would capture yours! So, listening intently I leant in a little closer. He said: “What I have found has contributed massively to my success story is one simple habit my mother taught me as a child. That habit was to make my bed without fail every morning.”
As a child, making your bed every morning teaches discipline, routine, order, independence and responsibility, however, I believe that if you carry on applying this principle throughout your life the natural consequences are extremely positive. This small act really can lead to you achieving greatness. But how? It’s simple. By accomplishing that very simple household chore upon waking in the morning, you are setting yourself up for success. You are entering a new day with a positive ‘can do’ attitude. Once you fulfil that task, you can go on to fulfil another, and another and ANOTHER. And so it continues. A pattern is created, a pattern that is destined to lead to success. As individuals we can often feel daunted or overwhelmed by huge tasks and responsibilities, yet the promise of this video I watched, was if you start the day by simply making your bed you are building your confidence and self-worth which ultimately will help you fulfil your potential. All too often we are waiting for incredible opportunities to fall right out of the sky and into our laps, however what we often tend to forget is that we truly can achieve greatness each day, if that is what we put our mind to.
Don’t ever underestimate the importance of starting your day in the RIGHT way. Waking up early, making your bed, exercising, eating a nutritious breakfast will do WONDERS for your mood and attitude throughout the rest of your day, and essentially, throughout the rest of your life!
So, you want to change the world? Start off by making your bed! Imagine if every single person on planet earth applied this principle…what could happen? Well, for one, there would be a lot of happy parents! But for another, so many individuals would be starting their day with a positive attitude – and I can safely say that the world would indeed be changed.
Leah Moy
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