‘Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.’
––Abraham Lincoln
Lincoln’s advice on sharpening the axe might come in handy if you ever had to chop down a tree.
But whether he meant it or not, his words also contains a profound spiritual truth that applies equally well to life in general.
As spiritual beings operating in a physical world, we do well when we align our mind, body and spirit, and allow our spiritual essence to flow freely through us.
This doesn’t happen when we’re stressed or angry, as those states cause resistance that slows down our connection to Spirit.
And whatever we do in such a state will either not yield the results we want, or worse, completely backfire on us.
So, it makes a lot of sense to take a little time out of our day to get into a better feeling mood before tackling anything important (or even starting the day).
I covered some of the reasons in more detail in my post, ‘Why Happiness Matters,’ so please check that out if you haven’t already done so.
But I should also point out that metaphysically speaking, our ‘vibration’ or state of consciousness dictates the results we will attract in the physical world.
So investing a little time to tune up your vibration makes sense from this perspective as well.
This is why spiritual teachers Abraham and Hicks advise that we ‘Get happy and then…‘
Processes for Sharpening the Axe
What you do to help yourself feel better will depend on your personal preference, or what you might be in the mood to do at the time.
I find that some (or even a combination) of the following work well for me:
- Sitting out in the garden with a cup of tea and enjoying the sunshine and birdsong;
- Taking a quick nap;
- Journalling to clear my mind;
- Writing my gratitude journal;
- Reading something inspirational;
- Listening to some uplifting music;
- A quick exercise session;
- Reciting an affirmation; and
- Meditation.
So next time you’re about to do something important and are feeling less than positive and relaxed, take some time out to ‘sharpen your axe.’
It won’t take four hours, I promise! Just fifteen minutes will do the trick.
And what’s more, you’ll thank yourself!
