Prime Your Day

by: Josh Bryant

As a teenager training at the Santa Barbara YMCA, I still remember the tension between this huge black dude we nicknamed “Zeus” and this yolked up cat we called “The White Power Guy” because of his white power tattoos. My friends and I debated for hours who would reign victorious if these two truculent terrors escalated to fisticuffs.

Now picture me, just a young buck, getting mad dogged by Zeus day in and day out during my senior year. But then, one fateful day, Zeus comes up to me and says, “Kid, you do more in one workout than most people do in a whole month. You’re outlifting the bodybuilders, dammit!” Oh, my emotions soared and I felt invincible like I could run through a brick wall.

Then, believe it or not, Zeus, the mighty one himself, asked me to spot him on the bench press! Can you imagine? He spoke to me like I was his trusted training partner, a capable equal in the iron game! At that moment, I knew I had made it – I had earned the respect of Zeus and the big guys at the gym. It was a feeling of accomplishment; something no amount of money could buy.

To this very day, I feel feelings of gratitude and power just thinking about that experience. I often recall this experience to “prime” my mornings.

What is Priming?

In psychology, priming is like setting up mental cues or shortcuts. Imagine you see a picture of a perfectly-smoked brisket; later, you’re more likely to respond quickly to words related to food, like “ribs” or “fries,” rather than unrelated words like “computer” or “shoe”. Priming can positively or negatively influence our actions and behaviors, usually without us being aware of it. Psychologists believe this happens because our brains organize information into groups or “schemas,” making related information more accessible when we encounter a specific stimulus. Priming can help you live your best life or be a mental weapon of mass destruction, we are going to look at how to use it positively.

Science Speaks

Back in 2008, Yale psychologists told some unsuspecting participants to hold their coffee while they took an elevator ride to the lab. But little did these folks know, they were part of an experiment.

Half of them got hot stuff, while the other half got the cold brew. And that was the only difference! Seems innocent, right? But wait, there’s more (RIP, Billy Mays).

Once they got into the lab, all of ’em read this short blurb about some random person and had to rate their personality using a questionnaire. But here’s the kicker: those who had the hot coffee rated that person as happier, friendlier, and more generous and sociable.

Meanwhile, the poor souls with the cold cup tended to see the same person as unhappy, cranky, and selfish. Can you believe it? That’s how coffee temperature messes with our perception of others! Crazy, right?

Now, here’s where it gets wild. The descriptions they got were identical, no difference whatsoever. But somehow, the temperature of that darn coffee played tricks on their brains, and they had no clue they were being secretly influenced.

Coffee temperature primed some people into the eternal optimist and others into the judgmental, grumpy grandpa. 

Morning Priming Routine

I picked up some morning priming wisdom from the great Tony Robbins, mixed it with insights from researcher Dawson Church, added a touch of Joe Dispenza’s magic, and sprinkled in my own unique ideas. 

Creating a morning ritual with priming is the ultimate way to kickstart your day. Your morning routine can set the tone for the rest of your day, and priming simply increases my overall feelings of happiness and overall sense of well-being while getting focused, and crystal clear about my goals.

Just 10 minutes of priming to start your day, and you’ll notice a massive boost in performance, mood, and overall state. 

Here is my routine:

Alright, here’s the no-nonsense morning priming routine, packed with powerful moves:

1. Get cozy – no standing, only lie down or sit.

• Pray
  
• Master the EFT tapping technique for 2-3 minutes, hitting these specific points (side of the hand, top of the head, eyebrow bone, side of the eye, below the nose, chin point, collarbone point, under the arm).
• Breathe with relaxation intention– inhale for 5 seconds, then exhale slowly for 5-10 seconds.
• Feel the gratitude for 1-2 minutes – even the smallest things count, like your child’s smile, pick three things.
• Empower yourself for 1-2 minutes by recalling three experiences that made you feel invincible.
• Share the love – think of someone you love and send them positive vibes for 1-2 minutes.
• Set your sights on the future – spend 2-3 minutes visualizing and getting pumped about 2-3 goals.
• Release the Wim Hoff breaths for one round of 30.
• Jot down your gratitude in a journal for 2-5 minutes.

Final Thoughts

Boom! In just 20 minutes, I am ready to conquer the day like a productivity superhero!  This is my routine; try it and then over time customize it to make it uniquely your own.

Due to popular demand, you can now purchase a phone consultation with Josh. Inquiry HERE.