I’m feeling a little deja vu while writing. I thought I wrote about this already, but I scanned the posts and didn’t find anything. Maybe it’s simply because I’ve thought about this topic often over the years.
I think it’s worth looking at the difference between “ritual” and “habit.” They tend to get mixed up in casual conversation. A person may talk about their “morning ritual” and describe getting a cup of coffee, perhaps, and sitting in a particular spot and reading something as they sip.
They may speak about getting ready each morning to meet the world and everything that entails, from the moment they sit up in bed, through their personal grooming, and whatever else prepares them to walk out the door. This is another process that sometimes is called a “daily ritual.”
The usage of the word “ritual” is incorrect, however, unless they are being mindful about what they are doing… but I bet they aren’t.
What they are talking about are “habits.” These things are done “mindlessly” in that no focus of attention is involved. We CAN focus attention on habits, but mostly we don’t.
Can a Habit Become a Ritual?
Sure. I think one of the easiest ways to turn a habit into a ritual is to focus on gratitude. For example, you can mindlessly pour yourself a beverage, or you can add gratitude to the process. Think about the origin of your drink. Gratitude can be cultivated for the people that produced it, you can ponder the complex process that enabled you to be drinking it, or you might simply be grateful that you live in a situation that makes it easy to own/pour/appreciate/consume a drink at all.
A morning habit of brushing your teeth can become a ritual when you are grateful for having teeth to brush and that you have the privilege of doing it in safety. Daydreaming on the back porch with a drink might be a habit, but focusing your attention on something can transform it into a ritual.
Fearless Culture is a consultancy that provides many tools to businesses, teams, and individuals to grow and collaborate. This is from their website:
Habits develop without us knowing it — after various repetitions, our brain switches to automatic mode. Rituals, on the other hand, are done with deliberate intention and focus. A ritual requires intent and engagement.
Maya Angelou had a very specific writing ritual. She would rent a hotel room and remove all possible distractions such as photographs, books, or TV. She started working every day at 7 AM sharp armed with a bottle of sherry, a deck of cards, legal pads, a thesaurus, and the Bible. She would spend hours writing in this carefully designed environment.
Frustrated with never having the right moment to do what you want? Design a ritual that will help you protect the space, time, and energy to take care of yourself.
Rituals turn ordinary experiences into sacred ones. (Check out the whole article)
Share Your Thoughts
Do you have any rituals?
Have you had experience with creating a ritual? How did it work?
Can you imagine a habit you have that might become a ritual?
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