For the past year, I have made it a habit of waking up at 5:00 am each day with the intention of starting my day off right. It is well known and taught in dozens of books that waking up early and practicing self-reflection, and positive affirmations is a catalyst to success in your personal and professional life. I know many people that have adopted this practice and I can say that the extra hour in the morning has helped me immensely.

My morning usually looks like this. I wake up, turn on some peaceful music, stretch, pray, read my bible, tell myself positive affirmations, go over a list of goals I have set for myself, then either read a book for personal growth or meditate. With two young’s boys, this doesn’t always go to plan but I try to stay as consistent as I can.

As I have grown into this habit I have taken Robin Sharma’s book the 5 AM Club to heart and try to find balance through four pillars. He says when it comes to cultivating yourself, there are four main aspects you must pay attention to: your soulset (spirituality), mindset (psychology,) healthset (physicality), heartset (emotionality).

We are all imperfect, and I would venture to guess that as you are reading this you have already identified one, two, or even three of these main pillars that you spend time cultivating. I would also make a bold statement in saying that I can almost guarantee that all of you reading this have at least one of these four pillars that stick out like a sore thumb in your day-to-day life. I know I do. Here is the thing about these pillars, if one of them is shorter, or taken away completely, the firm foundation we stand upon becomes unbalanced. An unbalanced foundation creates stress, anxiety, and health issues.

Your Soul

For me, I believe the most important of these four is your soul. I think that our ego is the demise of this pillar. One who is not trying to cultivate their soul hides behind a social mask. Your soul is who you sincerely are deep down below all the labels and titles. As I have tried to understand how to align more with my soul each day, life has seemed to flow more freely, and my ability to take action has been less of a struggle. Religion and Jesus conversations are tough for me. I am getting better, but I have found that living by example is the most impactful way I can cultivate my soul. I believe that life is not an accident. There is a purpose and meaning to every life. I have freely chosen to follow Jesus Christ and I know that makes life immeasurably better. Striving toward a close relationship with God has brought me a greater sense of security, purpose, and self-worth because I know that my identity is found in him and I know that I am forgiven. If this pillar is solid, the rest will come easier.

Your Mind

I think that the second most important of these four is your mind. I have found that a good mindset starts with the belief that you are in charge of your own ability to learn and improve. This is all well and good and on the surface. I think we all would agree that we try to cultivate a good mindset. In reality, it’s not as simple as cultivating positive thoughts. It’s how to take those thoughts and create actionable steps that put us in charge of our own life. I am great at self-sabotage and I know that goes for many other people. Yes, you can build a healthy mindset through the people you choose to have in your life, the words you speak, and the books you read. But we have to be intentional about limiting mindset killers like negative people, news media, and unhealthy comparisons. Your journey is yours and yours alone, and should never be compared to others.

Your Health

This pillar speaks for itself and from my reflection on my own health journey and my perception of others I think many people look at their health in one of two ways.

1. They completely ignore this pillar to their detriment and let their physical health negatively affect their soul, mind, and heart.

2. They solely focus on their health and self-image to a point where they let an unhealthy self-centered ego take over their soul, mind, and heart.

We should strive for a balance, where the pursuit of a healthy body should be with the intent of creating a physical foundation that is the glue that holds the soul, mind, and heart together. Exercise doesn’t have to be in a gym setting and can be fit into a daily schedule very easily. Being active decreases the levels of your body’s stress hormones, such as adrenaline and cortisol. It also stimulates the production of endorphins, chemicals in the brain that is the body’s natural painkillers, and mood elevators. Exercising has many health benefits, and your brain and body will thank you for it.

Your Heart

I like to look at the heart as the empathy pillar. If you consistently try and put yourself in the shoes of others you are more easily able to combat the enemy of all four of these pillars, envy, resentment, and stress. By their very nature, emotions make us feel, but they also make us act. In focusing on my heart I have found that it is cultivating genuine kindness that starts from within. It establishes, self-awareness, acceptance, peace, caring, positivity, giving, forgiving, and compassion that allows me to more freely and proactively be a force for good. Through a positive heartset you can create an environment in which you can make an impact on others and flourish in spite of the uncertainties and challenges that are so prevalent today.

Time is compounding and one of the most valuable assets we have. Waking up an extra hour early each morning gives you the equivalent of almost two and a half weeks’ worth of extra time each year that you wouldn’t otherwise have to focus on yourself. Cultivate that habit and I guarantee you will see progress in your soul, mind, body, and heart.