My Heroic Moment

"The longer I live, the more I realize the importance of attitude on life." - Charles Swindoll

Back in my days in the music industry, I remember storming into my CFO's office, lamenting about something I deemed crucial at the time. It was likely something insignificant that I had blown out of proportion. I’ll never forget his response. Once I finally stopped my tirade, he looked me squarely in the eyes and said, "The longer I live, the more I realize the importance of attitude on life." His words, echoing Charles Swindoll, sobered me instantly.

Over time and with maturity, I’ve come to realize how pivotal that simple piece of advice was. Attitude shapes our lives in profound ways, beyond just seeing the glass half full or half empty. It helped me become a believer in making the impossible possible, something I’ve strived for throughout my career, with the grace of God.

I used to be someone who had not one, not two, but three mobile devices. Thinking back, I laugh at how completely insane and silly that was. No one is that important. And as you can imagine, I was also someone who, from the moment I opened my eyes, was glued to one of those devices. It was a pretty intense way to start the day.

Unfortunately, this tethering to PDAs wasn't reserved just for my waking moments. Working for a very demanding entertainment mogul at one point in my career, I dreaded flights longer than a few hours. The minute I landed, I would turn my phone on, bracing for the barrage of hostile emails waiting for me, even though this mogul knew I was on a flight.

It didn't take long for me to recognize that my behavior was detrimental in numerous ways. I realized the need to implement self-discipline in my work habits—focusing on working smarter, not harder—and to approach each new day with intention. I began to adopt simple practices, such as scheduling emails in advance and instructing colleagues to call me directly if something urgent arose after hours rather than sending an email. This adjustment allowed me to disconnect from work, put my phone out of sight, and fully engage with my husband and stepsons when I got home.

The concept of the "heroic moment," as discussed by Saint Josemaría Escrivá, the founder of Opus Dei, refers to beginning the day promptly and energetically, especially when it's time to get up in the morning. Saint Josemaría emphasized overcoming the initial reluctance to stay in bed, seeing it as a small but significant battle. He believed this moment of decision is crucial for cultivating discipline, self-mastery, and dedication to one’s duties and spiritual life.

The "heroic moment" isn't just about getting up; it symbolizes confronting challenges and temptations with courage and decisiveness. It reflects a commitment to living a life of virtue and service, starting with seemingly small acts of self-discipline. Saint Josemaría saw this as a foundation for developing a strong spiritual and moral character.

Starting your day with silence can do wonders for you. You could spend time journaling, meditating or sitting with yourself in silence. This helps clarify your thoughts and leaves you with a clean mindset for the day.

According to Forbes, there are routines successful people swear by to level up their days. My friend Cheryl Overton recently wrote a post on LinkedIn about her approach to Mondays, coining #SoftMondays. My sister-in-law is reading the The 5AM Club: Own Your Mornings. Elevate Your Life. by Robin Sharma and can't stop talking about how it is changing pretty much "everything" for her.

Today, I am proud to say that my self-discipline around my mornings, especially Mondays, are now spent in prayer, meditation, gratitude, and reflection. Whatever emails await, can wait because if it’s truly an emergency, someone will call. I need to protect those first moments of my day for my mental and physical health. My belief is we all need to learn to untether ourselves from whatever unhealthy habits have a stronghold on us and work towards establishing healthy ones.

So, my Muse, how are you spending those first waking hours of your day?

Go forth and be the way. I am rooting for you, always.

Musically yours,

Amani D.

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