Hi, this is Monique Rhodes. Welcome to the In Your Right Mind podcast, where we’re learning how to be happier by working with our minds. If you'd like to explore a great program I offer called Your Best Self, come to iintendtobehappy.com—it’s a wonderful way to get started on your journey to happiness, which is all I ever want for you.
The Magic of Mornings
I get up every morning at 5:00 AM, all year round. People often ask why, and here’s the truth: there’s something sacred about the first light of day.
Where I live in Costa Rica, the monkeys start their morning calls just before 5:00 AM. Shortly after, the birds arrive, filling the air around my balcony. For a brief moment, there’s a stillness, and then—life awakens.
That hour holds a kind of magic for me. It’s not an obligation; it’s devotion. This time has become one of the most precious rituals of my day. Before the world places its demands on me—before notifications, emails, or anyone needs anything—I meet myself.
I meditate. I breathe. I write. I walk my dogs. I watch the sun rise. Nature hums around me, and I feel alive. That hour fills me up. It doesn’t drain me.
The Contrast of Late Nights
Compare that to late at night—those hours feel entirely different.
If I’m awake at 10:00 or 11:00 PM, the quality of my time becomes thin. I’m not creating or connecting; I’m usually consuming—watching TV I won’t remember, eating food I’m not truly hungry for.
For many, late-night hours become a time for worry, not wonder. Our minds wander backward, trying to fix what’s gone, or forward, anticipating problems yet to come. Instead of resting, we ruminate.
Trading Hours
What would it mean to trade the last hour of the night for the first hour of the morning?
When I do, I feel grounded, awakened in the truest sense. It’s not about productivity; it’s about how I want to feel and where I want to put my energy.
We all have hours that fill us and hours that deplete us. The secret isn’t to shame ourselves for the low-value ones, but to notice them gently—and make small, loving shifts.
The Weight of Ordinary Hours
It’s not the major events that shape our lives most, but how we live the quiet, ordinary hours.
Ask yourself:
- Which hours of your day are sacred?
- Which ones bring joy, clarity, and peace?
- Which ones leave you feeling empty?
Don’t just count your hours—weigh them. If one part of your day lifts you and another dims you, perhaps it’s time to rearrange. Not as a punishment, but as a reclamation.
Reclaiming Your Day
I go to bed most nights by 9:30 PM. That means I get seven hours of sleep and wake up at 5:00 AM feeling great.
I don’t waste my life in hours that don’t nourish me. The light of the morning is always there, waiting for you to meet it.
Try it out.
As always, be kind, take care, and go gently in the world.
