The Wellbeing 'Magic' of Rituals

I love having personal rituals, there is something special and 'magical' about them. They have a very different feel than a habit or a routine.

Rituals feel more sacred and meaningful, even empowering. There is a direct connection to our values, an honouring of them, through the actions within our rituals. I like to think of rituals as deliberately chosen actions that are in line with and represent our values. They are values in action - actions with purpose, awareness and meaning.

Routines are helpful and satisfying in their own ways but feel more task oriented and end result focused. Often routines turn into habits, the things we have practiced doing so often we end up doing them on auto-pilot without real focus or attention. 

Where rituals have intention and purpose behind them as a stand alone experience rather than a means to an end goal. (Even though rituals can contribute to one.) 

Traditions can even be rituals if the mindfulness and intention is still there after years of performing the tradition. It's easy to continue traditions out of habit instead of for the values we started them or implemented them with in the first place.

It is said that meditation is doing anything with your full attention. Add intention and personal values to the thing you are doing and you have a mindful action, a ritual.

Even parts of a yoga practice can be a ritual. At the start of a practice settling into the body, deliberately guiding the breath and at the end of the practice in the final resting pose of savasana or the humble appreciation and acknowledgement of our one-ness by completing the practice with namaste. If you practice yoga next time you are on your mat think of the beginning and ending, as rituals and see if it adds anything to the experience for you.

Taking deliberate and mindful actions, with intention, that align with your values feels good. That on its own is enough reason to add rituals into your life. As a wellbeing tool rituals offer other bonus benefits too.

Benefits of creating and performing personal rituals
- They help you to (re)connect with yourself, with others and with the present moment.
- The actions taken as part of a ritual can create momentum in the direction you want to be moving, in any life area, and can help to facilitate positive change.
- You receive immediate fulfillment because rituals connect to important personal values - this reduces the need for motivation or willpower to take an action towards a goal.

How to create a ritual
- Think of life values that are important to you.
- Reflect on your every day tasks and see if you can turn one into a ritual. (Adding a personal value to the task, thinking about why it's important to you, and adding awareness and intention can turn tasks such as making your bed or brushing your teeth into an enjoyed daily ritual.)
- Start with one or two of these everyday tasks as rituals and then add in new rituals when you feel inspired to. Great creative! If it feels good it's a good ritual fit for you.
- Be specific in what you are doing as your ritual. Attention to the details helps to make it meaningful and fulfilling rather than just another to-do on your daily list.
- Allow yourself the opportunity and permission to change up your rituals if they start to feel like a habit or routine.

Creating rituals is a beautiful way to honour who you are and life itself. By being deliberate, purposeful, present and aligned with your personal values you are paying tribute to and enjoying the things that matter to you. 

Whether your ritual is brushing your teeth, taking a bath, preparing a meal, a yoga practice or something very specific to you, having rituals as a part of your wellbeing tool kit is a beautiful gift to yourself.

Which every day tasks will you be turning into rituals? 

What new rituals are you going to create?

Share them with the Wellbeing with Lora community in the comments section below! I would love to hear from you!