Ritual is an act of self-love. Made up of different components, when performed consistently come together to form something meaningful, much larger than the individual acts themselves. It can take some time to craft the set of rituals that is right for you, and like everything else in life, this practice will develop with you as time passes. This article will help you get started with creating your own daily set of rituals by sharing five reasons why this practice is so powerful for lasting wellness, ideas for self love practices, benefits of maintaining your own personal practice and insight into the longstanding roots of rituals beyond a daily wellness routine. Before we dive right in, there are a few important tips to be mindful of when creating your daily practice:

 

Keep it simple. Start by selecting three daily practices and build from there. Overwhelming yourself at the very beginning can mean the whole experience becomes daunting. You can always add more and challenge yourself as it feels right, but start small to show yourself you can achieve what you set out to do every single day.

 

Be kind to yourself. There will be some trial and error to find the rituals that serve you best. This might mean some things just don’t make the list, trying to practice at different times of day, or mixing up the order of practices. None of this is failure as long as you keep showing up. If some days simply do not flow, this is normal, greet yourself with kindness and the knowledge that it is all part of the process.

 

Just start. There will be days when you can’t bear the thought of putting on your walking shoes or getting on the yoga mat. The mind is a tricky mistress and does not always allow us to see what we need, so we must trick her right back. Instead of trying to gear yourself up to do an hour long yoga class, just roll out the mat and see where it takes you. Eventually, you will have moved past the mental resistance that was holding you back. Just remember, each of the practices you select to be part of your daily ritual is because they make you feel good, so just think of this powerful positive effect and get started, even (especially) when it feels impossibly hard.

 

Ritual creates positivity

We all want to cultivate more joy in our lives so that we can live well. Through experience and experimentation, start to notice which parts of your day truly enhance your happiness and which do not. In your free time, it is fun (and easy) to chill on the couch looking at instagram, but do you feel the same sense of contentment as you do when you go outside for a walk? Understanding the short-term satisfaction in comparison to long-term satisfaction is key in identifying what deserves to be part of your rituals. Take some time to simply observe the way things throughout your day make you feel. There is no wrong answer, just your own truth. It can be helpful to start journaling some of these responses and recording your own ideas that will be part of your daily ritual. While you are in the trial period of creating your own daily rituals, these are a few ideas you can try:

 

Walk outside ~ connect with nature ~ drink a glass of lemon water in the morning ~ practice yoga ~ pick up some litter ~ read a book or article that is thought provoking ~ do something creative such as painting or drawing ~ repeat a kind self-affirmation to yourself ~ make a gratitude list ~ self massage ~ breath deeply ~ use some essential oils before bed ~ create a daily intention ~ meditate ~ journal ~ garden ~ dance ~ wait 30 minutes after waking before checking social media ~ give someone a compliment.

 

When we intentionally make time for these uplifting actions in our daily lives, there is a ripple effect that starts to enhance all the other aspects of ourselves. Create the positivity for yourself that you want to see in the world around you, and you will start to attract that positivity back.

 

Ritual builds trust with yourself

When you make a promise to yourself to commit to your rituals, it is just for you. Setting this goal might start with one week, 21 days, or even one month of consistently showing up for these selected practices that nurture the best version of you. The truth of the matter is that there is no one or nothing else involved, and the only person who knows when you don’t show up is you. This is a meaningful pact to help build self-confidence, self-reliance and trust. The relationship that you have with yourself is the same, if not more important, to the relationships you have with other people; and any successful relationship is built on a foundation of trust. There will be days when you are extra busy or your schedule gets thrown out of whack. It is more challenging to get around to acts of self care when you have a million appointments, work crisis and/or family drama. However, these are the days when you probably need it most. Allow yourself the space to be flexible with your rituals so that on days like these you can find your way to yourself. Taking into consideration the tips from above to be kind to yourself, and just get started, will be helpful tools when you are tight for time. Compromises such as, taking a shorter walk, finding time between tasks to take those deep breaths or splitting up rituals throughout the day are all ways you can ensure you still get the tender care you need whilst tackling the day like the boss that you are. Prioritising this time for yourself is you, showing you, that you, are worth showing up for.

 

Ritual creates introspection and self-awareness

Learning who you really are can take a lifetime, and unfortunately you are your own worst critic. Observing your own strengths, flaws, passions and purpose is easily overlooked for the busyness of day to day living that takes up the forefront of your attention. Getting to know yourself does not have to mean hours of reflective journaling or meditation because it is simply not realistic for most people. The act of simply pausing for a moment to notice a mood or a feeling is significant, especially when done repeatedly over the course of time. Notice the days when you are bouncing into life, and the days when you are dragging your heels. Identify the difference and be accepting of both versions, because it is easy to feel proud of the motivated self, but you can hold a different sense of pride for the lethargic self that overcomes such moods with perseverance and grit. When you take on the role of the observer, you are getting to know yourself on a deeper level by noticing your reactions, emotions and desires without any need to change or judge them, just simply becoming aware. This is a shifting of power from the constant analysis and chatter of the egoic mind to the acceptance and detachment of the feeling mind. Zen Buddhists refer to this as the “thinking mind” and the “observing mind” and recommend instead of statements that suggest we are a feeling, “I am happy,” to state an emotion as, “I feel happy.” Eventually through observation and introspection, you might start to become more aware that certain moods and emotions do not feel so overwhelming, and you can choose more consciously to be rattled by something, or not. We can collect facts and intellect like objects but true wisdom comes from lived experience. You can only understand what you know, and you can only know what you allow yourself to see. Self-awareness and empathy are symbiotic to each other and having a deeper appreciation of yourself will allow you to connect more authentically with other people. Compassion for others makes you the best kind of person, but it must first come from compassion for yourself.

 

Ritual builds resilience

Ritual and routine are pillars of wellness because they are the formula for healthy habits. The repetition of an action, no matter what that is, will eventually become ingrained over time. This is the Law of Repetition which is practiced as a method of learning, psychology, weight loss, marketing, worship, and the list goes on. Discipline, though it can sound a little scary and militant, is a key practice when it comes to finding success in any area. Through discipline you are able to harness the motivation and diligence to get through anything life may throw at you. No matter which way you slice it, the struggles of life are unavoidable. Daily rituals offer a sense of familiarity as well as time to slow down and check in with yourself that will help get you through life’s toughest situations. The structure, self-assurance and self-knowledge, that this practice can offer you acts as a grounding reminder of normalcy between you and whatever chaos that might unfold. Think of it like a strong tree branch that you can hold onto when the wind inevitably starts whipping up a gale. Additionally, routine should not be mistaken for mundanity, in fact quite the opposite is true. When you enforce positive daily habits through a gentle coaxing of the mind, you are investing in your ability to be open minded to new experiences. Taking on this ritual was a new experience that you have proven to yourself that you can achieve, so what potential will you unlock next? The realisation that only fear in the mind stands between you and your goals is an empowering place to start taking on these goals with a new lens. Through the aforementioned reasons, you have built a foundation of inner strength that should not be doubted. These acts may seem simple and minor when looked at individually, but the overarching gesture you make to care for your body, mind and spirit builds a powerful force within.

 

Ritual anchors us to ancient practice

Rituals link us to greater traditions that go far beyond the modern day. Ancient Indigenous communities across the world, as well as Vedic yoga and other wisdom traditions dating back thousands of years have used the power of ritual as an action of devotion that connects them with nature and a higher consciousness. This ability to feel a part of something larger than yourself is why such a long-standing practice has remained a fundamental pillar in so many cultures. Rituals bring together communities in times of joy and times of sadness, whether practised in groups or in solitude, rituals bind us together in humanity from all walks of life. It is important not to overlook the sacredness of traditional rituals, though your daily ritual might not reflect any affiliations to a larger collective. Regardless, you will experience a spiritual connection to self that happens as a result of this practice, as it is an observation of self-study and self-love. In yogic traditions, daily ritual is called Sādhana which includes practices such as meditation and chanting of mantra. It has many translations that relate to the aspiration of a goal or transformation. We can all strive for this transformation through a committed practice that helps us to better ourselves and attain wellbeing.

 

So, ask yourself what you need, when are you content, what brings you joy, and makes you feel at your best. Begin with a lightheartedness that is both determined and forgiving; knowing that you are your own best friend. This practice is that of investing positively in yourself by creating good in each and every day. It is trusting your ability to show up for yourself and build accountability by truly loving yourself in whatever ways you can each day. It is understanding your emotions so that you are empowered to take control of them rather than let them control you. It is never doubting what this self-love and inner strength can empower you to do. It has come from a long line of practitioners and teachers, but is yours to graciously make your own.