Why You Want Rituals Instead Of Habits

You want rituals, instead of habits, for their intentionality, purpose and focus, service, and sacredness.

We all have habits.  Physical, mental, and even emotional ones.

And not all our habits serve us well.

Once I started having rituals in my life, I started seeing change happen, and the benefits snowballing.

Habits can be rituals, and rituals, made up of habits.

Habits and rituals have the same elements, but differ in where it matters most.

Why would you want rituals, instead of habits?

 

Rituals have intentionality.

I have habits, that I don’t know where they come from, or how I formed them.

Habits that were driven by my cravings and environment, and still continue to run, and affect me to this day, positively or negatively.

To this day, new things and surprises scare me.  It has become an emotional and mental habit to, even for a split-second, recoil and take a step back from whatever’s facing me.

Instead of embracing with open arms.

This habit has either served me well, or hindered me greatly.

Rituals, on the other hand, are intentional.  Meaning rituals don’t just happen.

You plan for them, you create them, you build them, and you commit to them.

You want rituals because you want them in your life.

They just don’t happen by accident.

You make them happen.

 

Rituals have purpose and focus.

When I wake up in the morning, the first thing I do is do a series of stretches for my lower back.  The exercises was given to my by my chiropractor, to alleviate pain, and create flexibility and strength in my lower back.

At first, it was annoying, and I found the series of exercises boring and tedious.  But I wanted to do it, because the fear of losing my lower back, not being able to live a normal life, trumps the tediousness at the beginning.

Now, I do my exercises with the purpose of strengthening my lower back, and as a part of being able to live an extraordinary life.

Same with my writing ritual, and exercise.

I started to exercise because I had a purpose of having more energy and being a stronger person.

For others, it could mean being less overweight, and regaining a normal, functional, life.

Rituals have purpose.

Rituals help us focus on the consistent action we need to take to reach our desires and dreams.

Rituals back up our focus, and our dreams, and wants, with action.

 

Rituals push you forward.

Since rituals are a means for us to achieve our purpose, and our desires, rituals push us forward, closer to the achievement of those.

I have a desire to be more physically fit, and one measure I set for myself is to be able to do 11 pull-ups.  I’m now at eight straight.  I exercise three times a week, to be able to achieve that goal.

As a part of being more physically fit, I also do my stretching exercises first thing when I wake up in the morning.

The rituals you have for yourself, are supposed to consistently contribute to your forward motion, to your momentum.

Even when you don’t feel like it.

Even when you don’t feel motivated.

Even when you feel unsure about what you’re doing, or yourself.

Even when you question your purpose.

The rituals keep you moving, and keep you progressing, little by little.

Again, change doesn’t happen overnight.  You commit to it, moment by moment.

And rituals help you commit and follow through.

 

Rituals are sacred.

Because of the importance certain rituals have in your life, and the role they play in getting you what you want, they become sacred.

We place importance on them, we prioritize them, we make sure they get done.

No excuses, we find ways to stick to them, even when the going gets tough.

Although habits can stick with us the rest of our life, they are very malleable.

Meaning if we have a habit of exercising, then suddenly a tough work schedule for the week hits us, we find ourselves not exercising.

“It’s too hard, my schedule doesn’t allow me to exercise.”

“I don’t have the time for it.”

Excuses.  You really didn’t commit.

If it’s a ritual for us, we become fanatics about getting it done.

We find ways, and won’t let changes in our routine, schedule, and life, stop us.

Rituals are sacred.  We take care of them, nurture them, and keep them going.

 

Turn habits into rituals.

We can change habits, and turn them into rituals that serve us.

Rituals are made up of habits that you intentionally create, commit to doing consistently, and leverage, to get results and move you forward to where you want to go.

Align your habits with your purpose.

Make your habits serve you, and not the other way around.

Commit to doing them, follow through.

No matter what, no excuses.

And watch as the small bits of progress you accumulate create big changes in your life.

Create rituals, not habits.

 

What rituals do you have in your life?  Please share in the comments below!