🛠 The Power of Rituals
“Protecting our current rituals and establishing new ones to fill a potential void is what we need to offer us some sense of control that seems so elusive in 2022.” ~ Liana
Dear Friends,
We must establish and value our own rituals and protect them to help us thrive in community and with peer support. Rituals are a powerful tool for our wellbeing, in life and in work. A ritual, defined as a “series of actions or a type of behavior regularly and invariably followed by someone," can be preparatory, comforting, grounding, transitioning, and nurturing.
During the pandemic upheaval of the past two years, we have experienced constant change and uncertainty, we think rituals are even MORE important now. And rituals of the past are distant memories for many of us! Michele and I reflected on how rituals can help us. There are cultural rituals, such as making wedding vows and singing the Happy Birthday song. There are religious and spiritual rituals, such as praying and lighting a candle at the altar. We may have family rituals, such as a sit-down Sunday dinner, reading a bedtime story, or watching a funny video each night to end the day with a laugh. And, we each have individual rituals, such as starting each morning with a cup of coffee, meditation, a shower, or a run.
And community and support building rituals? So important! Let’s not forget the loss to many of the traditional church-going that has dropped significantly among Millenials, even before the Covid shutdowns. In Western Society, extended families rarely live together or near one another in 2022, much less in the same state, assuring us that the big Sunday family dinner of the past may never happen for most people. A Sunday night ritual of Chinese delivery and Netflix binging may satisfy your personal ritual fulfillment for rest and comfort, but not your need for community and support…
The rituals of food are central to most cultures, including WORK! Remember the working lunch, receiving an invitation of “Let’s do lunch,” and just gathering with work colleagues in the cafeteria for some relaxed bonding or a much-needed rest? Do people working remotely get to enjoy a weekly Happy Hour with their work colleagues? Or enjoy an invitation to the special lunch that signifies growth in their career? When I was a young marketing executive at The Economist publishing group and was invited to “The 2 Pint Lunch” in New York City by my English boss, I felt my spot on the team was really secure! At 26 I felt I had arrived just by an invitation to join this work ritual. Remote work requires us to find other rituals at work as well as at home. Food for thought!
Ten ways that Rituals help us:
They help us find meaning
They anchor us
They reduce distraction and provide momentum to start and/or complete a project
They help to strengthen relationships
They reduce uncertainty and anxiety in certain situations
They acknowledge growth
They support difficult transitions
They help us accept change and loss
They give us an added sense of control
They help us feel connected and included
Protecting our current rituals and establishing new ones to fill a potential void is what we need to offer us some sense of control that seems so elusive in 2022. Adding a sense of control and rhythm to our lives can be essential to feeling satisfied in life and in work.
“As human beings, we strive and struggle to make meaning, and sometimes it takes a 10-year-old to remind us how important these rituals really are.” ~ Michele
🛠Tool: Ask yourself what are your daily rituals? What are some rituals you miss from your life that you had as a child or during another phase of your work or personal life? Write it down. Tell us what we’ve missed that resonates with you! In the comments or in your journal.
We suggest that you create a dedicated journal for the tools we are offering you here each week. Combine this with the Gratitude Journal Dr. Quinn tells us about in our Mindshare Podcast. Writing things down really helps to absorb a new concept and apply it to your life to create a real shift.
We would love to hear from you. Comment below or email us at info@monumentalme.com.
🧡Liana & Michele