A Simple Morning Practice for When You Feel Like Quitting

Spark Motivation & Build Resilience Daily

I’m no stranger to quitting. Just yesterday it was Leg Day at the gym. I had only done two exercises when I walked over to the leg extension machine, read the Out of Order sign, and went home. The vibes were off anyways. I was done. Granted, that was small and inconsequential. I did not quit the gym entirely and I probably needed the rest anyways.

But there are days when the morning alarm sounds like an ominous bell toll. The long to-do list. The growing inbox. Yet another meeting.

The pursuit of building a meaningful life, business, or practice comes with the (hopefully occasional) burnout and doubt. Especially when you don’t experience overnight success. The grand vision is obscured by the mundane tasks.

But we have to keep going.  

For the solitary practitioner, there is no congregation to lift you up. Your spiritual resilience is a craft you need to tend to personally. And daily.

Why Small Rituals Matter

In the craft, we understand that intention is the first spark of magic. Yet, when besieged by life, that spark can feel impossible to ignite. Daily practice makes it so you don’t have to wait for inspiration or motivation to begin. It’s already habit. Small, but consistent, action builds momentum.

Ideally, you design a ritual that works for you. It can be as small as making your coffee with intention. But if you can’t think of anything, here is an idea.

The Ritual

You’ll need a tea light or a small candle.

Light the candle and watch the flame catch. The flame represents intention. Gaze at it, letting your vision go blurry.

Sit comfortably. Place a hand on your heart or belly. Inhale slowly for a count of four, feeling your lungs and diaphragm expand. Hold for a count of four. Exhale completely for a count of eight, releasing any tension you can identify. Repeat this cycle three times. Breathing is the life you are breathing into your day.

Let your mind wander. You don’t need any specific thoughts in the beginning. A dream could be lingering in your mind. Maybe a song you heard last night. But once you feel that you are “in the zone,” think about what you’re trying to accomplish in this space. Are you simply trying to feel more motivated? Do you want to untangle an overwhelming to-do list?

Personally, I like to remind myself of my “why?” Why am I working today? Why am I getting out of my comfortable bed?

It’s okay to say, “I’m going to work today because I have bills to pay.” If that’s the reality, then be honest with yourself. Would it be nice if you were working because you are on your way to becoming a multi-millionaire and are going to leave behind a huge inheritance and an entrepreneurial legacy? Yes.

But if you must make moves today out of necessary instead of purpose, then that’s something you can address later. Today, though, you just have to get ready for your day and only need enough motivation and fuel to get started. You don’t need to solve your whole day in the first five minutes. Just how you don’t need to solve every problem you have in one day. One step at a time. You can figure the rest out later.

Take one more deep breath. Extinguish the candle by pinching the wick or using a snuffer if you’re superstitious. (Some people believe blowing out candles blows away blessings.) As the smoke curls up, imagine your intention being released to do its work.

Building Resilience

On easier days, this ritual feels affirmative and calm. On days you want to quit everything in your life, this small ritual is a way to reel yourself back in. It doesn’t make the work easy, but it does help you remain steady as you do it. It helps build resilience that is not reliance on external motivation or perfect circumstance.

Give it a shot. And remember that you are worth showing up for.

---

When you're ready to grow your spiritual business or develop as a professional tarot reader book a 1-on-1 Marketing Strategy Session or a Private Tarot Tutoring Session .

Explore more resources. For visual guidance, subscribe to my YouTube channel. For creative inspiration, download 300+ writing prompts inspired by the Tarot. For organizing your practice, access my Book of Shadows Notion Template here.