Morning Chaos

Mornings can feel like a race before the day has even begun. The alarm doesn’t always go off on time, or you wake up late after hitting the snooze button too many times, putting yourself behind and leaving no room for the thoughtful, intentional start you planned. Instead, you’re rushing through tasks, juggling work and expectations, and feeling the pressure build with every passing minute. It’s easy to lose control before you’ve even stepped out the door, and the day can feel overwhelming before it even begins.

What if, even in the rush, you could find a moment of calm? Imagine stepping into the day grounded, with a sense of clarity and control, not because everything went perfectly, but because you chose to pause, reflect, and reset. As I did one morning when everything seemed to go wrong.

Finding Clarity Amidst Chaos

Mornings have a way of sneaking up on me. Usually, the soft, ethereal chime of my alarm, the PlayStation 2 startup sound, is supposed to pull me from sleep at 2:30 AM, giving me more than enough time to ease into the working day before my 5:00 AM shift. But not this day. That day, I woke up begrudgingly and glanced at the clock; it was 3:50 AM.

The realization hits like a wave. My carefully planned morning is gone, replaced by a blur of urgency. I rush to shower and steep a mug of Lapsang Souchong tea, grabbing my trusty BMO Adventure Time mug, the playful grin on its surface offering a tiny bit of comfort in the chaos.

Before I dive headfirst into the rush, I step outside onto the porch. There's something grounding about being out there, surrounded by the cool, still morning air. The world feels paused, untouched by the frenzy I'm trying to manage. Standing on the porch, even for just a minute, reminds me that the day stretches far beyond this moment of stress. It's my way of reclaiming a slight sense of control before the whirlwind takes over.

As I sip my rich, smoky tea, the aroma wrapping around me like a comforting pause, I'm reminded of something Pico Iyer wrote in The Art of Stillness. He described how stepping away from the frenzy allows us to see more clearly and reconnect with ourselves in ways constant activity never can. It also brings to mind Cobb's spinning top in Christopher Nolan's Inception. For him, it was a grounding ritual to find clarity in the chaos. Much like my tea on the porch, it's proof that even the slightest pause can help reset your perspective and reclaim control.

At that moment, I realized clarity doesn't require everything going perfectly. It just needs a sliver of space, a choice to pause. It's now 4:05. The rush is still there when I step back inside, but I'm grounded, ready to tackle what's ahead. Not because the morning started smoothly but because I gave myself a moment to pause and reset.

A Simple Path to Grounding

Even in the chaos, finding a moment of stillness doesn’t just calm your nerves. It helps you regain clarity, focus, and a sense of control. It’s a reminder that no matter how rushed or imperfect your morning feels, a slight pause can reset your mindset and change how you approach the rest of the day. That’s what I discovered when I stepped onto the porch; my morning was far from perfect but still salvaged by a single intentional moment.

Reclaiming your morning doesn’t require perfection; it starts with a simple, intentional act. Here’s how you can create your own grounding moment, even on the most rushed days:

1. Pause Before Reacting:

   • No matter how late you feel, stop for just a moment. Breathe deeply, and let yourself take in the reality of the situation without rushing into panic mode.

2. Create a Ritual That Grounds You:

   • For me, it’s steeping a mug of Lapsang Souchong and stepping onto the porch. For you, it might be something different: a glass of water, a favorite song, or even just standing still for a moment.

3. Step Outside, If Possible:

   • The fresh air and stillness of the outdoors can create a sense of pause and perspective, reminding you that there’s more to the day than the immediate rush.

4. Anchor Yourself with a Reminder:

   • Whether it’s the playful grin of a favorite mug or a quote that inspires you, hold onto something that pulls you into the present and recenters your mindset.

Even when my morning started late and chaotic, these steps helped me reset. A few small, deliberate actions can make all the difference in reclaiming your day.

I personally call it the Baroshi Minute Reset, a simple practice of stepping away from the rush, creating a brief moment of stillness to regain clarity and self control. It’s not about perfection or having extra time; it’s about carving out a single, intentional pause to shift your mindset and set the tone for the day ahead. That morning, despite waking up late and feeling the pressure of the clock, the One-Minute Reset on the porch grounded me, proving that even in chaos, clarity is within reach.

Life is dynamic, constantly shifting in ways we can’t always expect. Mornings can feel like the first battle of the day, and getting swept up in the rush is easy. But even in the chaos, a moment of stillness can make all the difference. Clarity and control aren’t reserved for perfect days. They’re within reach when you take a moment to pause and reconnect with yourself. Start with something simple. Tomorrow morning or whenever, step outside or somewhere quiet secluded for just a minute. Breathe deeply, feel the air around you, and let yourself be present. Life may not slow down, but you can. That one small act can set the tone for your day, grounding you in the clarity you deserve.

John Baroshi
For more insights, visit JohnBaroshi.com.