Are you feeling a little out of kilter? In this topsy turvy world do you crave a bit of stability and security? If so, it might be time to introduce some routines and rituals into your life. In this blog post, we’ll start to explore exactly what routines and rituals are. Then over the rest of the month, we’ll look at how you can use them, to make your life easier and more productive.
Rituals don’t have to be just for special occasions – they can be a part of everyday life. They’re not just nice to have – they can provide structure that helps us to build resilience and reduce anxiety.
Rituals are those things we do over and over, same way, same time. Like, for example, having coffee and reading the newspaper every morning – that’s a ritual. But so are weddings, graduations, and funerals. It’s all about the repetition and the sameness of the event, rather than the size. When they’re on a smaller level we often call them habits rather than rituals.
They are essential for our society and us as individuals. On one level they help bring us together, allowing us to express our grief and joy publicly. Plus, they help us mark important times of the year, like the changing of the seasons. Rituals also act as symbols of our group identity and are a way of passing down our beliefs from one generation to the next. Most families have rituals or traditions that they follow and share.
Some of the other benefits of rituals and habits include creating a sense of predictability and structure. In this way they can help reduce stress and anxiety and have a positive impact on mental health.
People obtain a sense of identity and belonging through rituals. They also obtain feelings of empowerment and self-confidence using rituals. Both individual people and society at large heal from loss and celebrate victories and gains using rituals.
Through finding our sense of self and a sense of belonging, rituals can give us confidence and strength. They can help us to process loss and celebrate successes. Whether it’s an individual or a community, rituals are a powerful tool for healing and rejoicing.
Many of our daily habits are actually rituals that we may not even be aware of. From brushing our teeth in the morning to checking our phones before bed, there are certain activities that we do every day without fail. These are the rituals that are so deeply ingrained in us that we don’t even think twice about them.