When you think of rituals, what is it that you picture in your mind? Is it elaborate Roman Catholic Services or other religious ceremonies? These examples demonstrate some of the more formal rituals you may be familiar with but aren’t necessarily involved in. But rituals aren’t just the big events and can have a much simpler and necessary part to play in all our lives. Whether you realise it or not, incorporating ritual into your daily routine can have many powerful benefits.
What Are Rituals?
If you want to make the most of rituals, let’s start by discussing what they are. Simply put, rituals are a sequence of activities performed in a specific order. Regularly, repetitively, and habitually followed by an individual or a group. Rituals can take many different forms from simple to complex.
Why Are They Important?
Rituals provide an opportunity to see ourselves more clearly. To feel more connected to ourselves and our surroundings. They can provide a feeling of security in what is fast becoming an uncertain future. Some people use them as a way of calming anxiety.
We often use our own knowledge and past experiences to predict what may happen. Performing a ritual that involves repeating a pattern, provides us with the stability to control our immediate future. Which can bring relief to some when change is happening around us.
Who Are They For?
Rituals are also important because they can offer a sense of connection. Families gather for all kinds of rituals. Marriages, births, deaths, coming of age ceremonies. The list is endless and known to be observed by multiple cultures and religions around the world.
Some people have grown up with ritual being a part of their lives since childhood, and they continue to perform these rituals through habit and obligation rather than for the purpose of having a positive influence on their lives. And while this may work for some, I’m a firm believer in doing what works for you. If something isn’t working or it just doesn’t fit with your values, it’s ok to adjust, change or completely remove a ritual and replace it with something that feels aligned for you and your life.
Rituals Connect People
There are people that use rituals to increase their resilience. During the coronavirus pandemic, all kinds of new rituals were formed while we were locked up in our homes. People needed something to give them purpose when we had no idea what would happen. Around the world people clapped for healthcare workers to show their appreciation. Others sang in the street to entertain. All these things were introduced to give people a sense of control over circumstances we had not experienced before.
Incorporating ritual gives us an opportunity to normalise things we either want to become a part of our lives or to deal with aspects that we had no choice in. Whatever the reason though, these rituals play a valuable role in our ability to deal with adversity.
What Ritual Means To Me
For me, incorporating ritual into my daily life has been more about achieving a sense of familiarity. I love the organised steps I perform one after another. I love the sense of achievement as I complete each step. I love the orderly structure of my day when I actively engage in the ritual I’ve created for myself. It keeps me motivated and brings me a sense of calm and control over my actions.
It brings me closer to my purpose. It frees me to get on with my day without the pressure of feeling like I’m on a deadline. It gives me the opportunity to appreciate what I’m doing and to be grateful for what I’m creating. It grounds me and helps me to be present in what I’m doing so the work I produce is of the highest quality. It gives me a space from which to observe. A distance that can give another perspective that you may not see when you’re amid your work or a hectic day.
My Ritual
My ritual is a simple daily ritual that includes morning activities to encourage a good start to the day. Along with practical and physical elements to ensure I incorporate exercise and good working habits into my day. There are gratitude and intention setting elements to connect me to my higher self and journaling to make space and self-coach.
A typical day may start like this: After waking, I meditate for five minutes while I visualise the successful and productive day ahead. I make coffee. While I’m waiting, I set my intention. I light a candle and say my intention out loud.
When my coffee is ready, I sit down with my journal, and I’ll list five things I’m grateful for that day. Then I’ll free write in my journal for fifteen minutes. I write about whatever is on my mind that day or whatever comes up when I start writing. Stream of consciousness writing is a great way to create space and allow new ideas to form.
Exercise is the next step. I try to walk outside every day for a minimum of one hour. When I arrive home, I make breakfast. Then it’s time for work. By following this ritual each morning, I get the most out of myself and my day.
Evaluate Your Rituals
Consider reviewing your own rituals. What do you do that could be considered a ritual? Do you have a cup of tea in the morning? Do you always take the same route to work? Do you go for a walk at lunchtime? Do you read before you go to bed?
You may not even realise it, but all these little things are part of your daily ritual. They offer you a feeling of familiarity and keep you focused on the task at hand. They give your brain a consistent and predictable outcome to help you deal with anxiety or stressful and challenging situations.
How To Get Started
If you’re thinking of incorporating ritual into your life, my suggestion would be to start small. Incorporating ritual requires three things: Intention, Attention, Repetition.
If you’re to succeed, start by including something small in your day. Your intention is the biggest driver for your new ritual. If you want to know more about intention setting, you can read about it here.
You must give your new ritual your full attention every day. Let it connect you to your intention. Use it to feel grounded and present.
Lastly, repetition is the most important piece. The only way to make this new ritual part of your life is to perform it every day without fail. It will take at least one month, maybe two to integrate the new ritual.
Final Thoughts
You must be dedicated to your practice and sometimes it will be hard. Especially when your routine is different. For instance, when you’re on holiday or travelling, but the more you incorporate it, the more it will become second nature to you.
By personalising your rituals to suit your life, you’ll benefit from organised mornings. Less stressful days. Heightened experiences. Emotional mastery. Improved relationships at home and at work. The ability to reduce anxiety and feel more in control.
When you take control of your day, you take control of your life. You have the power to create a life of your choosing and it starts with incorporating ritual into your daily routine.
We are now taking applications for the July Coaching Intensive. If you’re ready for change and want more control over the direction your life takes you can apply here
