Happy Dance, Sunsets and Tea

I find I’ve become a fan of rituals these days. I’m not sure how it started or how I got here, and yet I engage in several according to Merriam Webster who defines a ritual as an act or series of acts regularly repeated in a set precise manner.

Oftentimes, rituals are religious, spiritual or “new-agey,” but they don’t have to be. Most of mine are just simple, little actions that bring me joy, like my morning tea or my evening sunset walks, although I do admit to a few that may or may not center around a full moon.

While you may not call them rituals, my guess is you have your own you engage in. They are surprisingly common, and that may be because they help reduce anxiety. We like the predictability they offer. We feel in control. It may be the reason we see so many ritualistic behaviors in professional sports. It gets the athlete in the right headspace as they repeat the practice each time at a regular time. It gives them order.

And speaking of sports, those rituals can also act as a way to keep the team or community bond tight. If you’re a Dodger fan, you’ve seen the funny little happy dance they do when they get on base. That’s a ritual. And while I might be a little biased (go Dodgers!), I enjoy watching the way they get along and the way they support each other.

Rituals are really just habits or routines elevated to a level of importance, or, I would say, sacredness. Sacred because it’s intentional, profound, and repeated in a specific way. My sunset beach walks, for example are very intentional – I check the calendar each day to see the time the sun actually sets. They are profound – I feel each sunset with my entire being. They are repeated each day as the sun descends below the horizon.

Now it’s check in time. What are some of the rituals you engage in? Do you read at the end of each day? Meditate daily? Have a regular exercise routine? Get up early, before the rest of the house, so you can ease in to the day?

What are some other rituals you could add? Put rituals to work for you when you are feeling anxious. Rituals can bring order and peace of mind when so much seems out of your control.