Paul’s Rough Monday Morning Eased by Oprah’s Super Soul Sunday [VIDEO]

I had a rough morning.

As a morning show host, I get up when the world in my time zone sleeps. It is as dark as it will ever be in the moments I am preparing for work. Because humans aren't supposed to be awake when it is so dark, I wait as long as humanly possible before I make myself get up, thus leaving little time for mistakes.

So when something does go awry, like not being able to find my keys as happened this morning, it is enough to throw me into a tizzy. It's unfortunate, but it happens.

I did flip my lid, didn't help my wife's Monday at all, I'm sure, but then on the way to work, I realized that I wasn't going to let it ruin my entire day. I wanted a way to turn it around.

This came to mind.

The Zen Principle Phil Jackson Used to Coach Dennis Rodman

Watch the full episode here. 

Legendary NBA coach Phil Jackson says he's long sought spiritual practices to help quiet his restless mind. In his new book, Eleven Rings: The Soul of Success, Phil says three Zen principles have been critical to him as a leader. One of them, in fact, particularly helped him in managing rule-breaking player Dennis Rodman on the Chicago Bulls. Find out how letting go of control helped Phil allow Dennis to become a better player.

There was nowhere else for my mind to go, except two places; either more anger or more peace. I wanted more peace. This clip reminded me to breathe, and then realizing that I could use this episode for a blog post, thereby taking care of another Monday duty, felt like it gave me some power over my anger.

And I promised myself I would breathe. But I had a lot to do, so I am going to breathe for a moment right now.

(Imagine Paul breathing slowly, silently, with his eyes closed, palms facing up in the studio chair at TRI 102.5).

Okay. That worked reasonably well. Here are the other things that I did (and do) to reset from an irritating episode that takes me away from happiness and gratitude.