Coffee Time

I’ve always felt that early morning hours have a certain magic in the air.

Cue: my best friends lovingly shaking their heads at me coming in hot with the word ‘magic’ before noon.

After my newsletter last week, one of those best friends (I know, Mom! “You can only have ONE best friend.” What can I say? I love ‘em all!) reached out wanting to hear examples of self-commitment in the day-to-day.

My morning routine was the first to come to mind, so here we are. In my early twenties, I’d roll out of bed and reach for my phone. I was young, heartbroken, and a hot mess reading everything from Yogananda’s Autobiography of a Yogi to The Gospel of Thomas, trying to relieve myself of pain in search of meaning.

Naturally, I threw myself into yoga teacher training and tried to triangle-pose my way out of heartache. I was introduced to the word “Sadhana,” which is just a fancy way of saying “…a spiritual practice or discipline.” In true Type A form, I created an aggressive Sadhana routine in an attempt to be the “best” yogi. Fortunately, I met a teacher who told me to chill the f*ck out and keep it simple. As my father would say, “the ‘best’ practice is the one you do.”

So, my mornings became the time I sat still with myself to meet and examine feelings I had been running from, and my Sadhana became the combo move of meditation, coffee, and journaling.

A few years ago, my nutritionist introduced me to Purity Coffee, encouraging me to consider the source of my coffee as much as everything else in my diet. I loved the coffee so much, I reached out and asked to be an ambassador. I’m definitely going to plug an affiliate link, don’t you worry.

I take my coffee time seriously. It’s a commitment to time with myself, before emails, phone calls, and the rest of the noise that starts pouring in shortly after the sun rises. It’s a moment of solitude. Not just physically alone, but emotionally present with myself without distraction, without someone else's needs directing my morning energy.

This past year has felt familiar to that "hot mess" period in my twenties. But this time I'm navigating the chaos differently. Instead of being swept away by life's storms, I have my morning ritual as an anchor—a steady practice that has provided solid ground during my most ungrounded moments.

My current coffee obsession is Sacred Cups. I told you that link was coming! I was sold at “sacred.” Purity was kind enough to offer my readers 20% off their first purchase with code “JENNA.”

Danielle, this is for you! What have I learned about sacred morning rituals and self-commitment? I’m still learning, but for now…

Sacred doesn't mean perfect. Sacred means intentional. It means choosing to be present with yourself, even if it's just for ten minutes. It can be messy. I’m currently drinking out of a gifted mug that reads, “You’ve got this!” Someone felt I needed that mug. So… MESSY.

Consistency is devotion. Showing up for yourself daily affirms, "You matter enough for this attention. Your peace matters. Your presence in your own life matters." Consistency is how self-commitment becomes a way of life, not just a concept.

Ritual creates relationship. My morning coffee isn't just about caffeine. It's about the relationship I'm building with myself. It's time devoted to feel my own energy and charge for the day (which is not about other people, but helps to bring my best self to them). I'm not performing for anyone, not solving anyone's problems, not being anyone's anything except my own companion and compass. That daily practice of being genuinely present with myself is an ongoing practice of what self-commitment feels like, which trains the body to recognize when it goes off course into self-abandonment.

Small acts compound into transformation. After I started treating my morning coffee as sacred time, I began noticing other moments where I could choose myself. Even the way I prepared dinner shifted from just refueling to a practice of nourishment.

My morning ritual, or Sadhana, became my daily reminder that self-commitment isn't about grand gestures or major life overhauls. It's about the accumulation of small moments where you choose to be present with yourself, with the same care and attention you'd give to someone you love.

Do you have a morning ritual? What does it teach you about choosing yourself? Hit reply and tell me—I read every response, usually with my sacred morning coffee in hand. Let me know what you think of Sacred Cups!