Rituals for Health
A happy and healthy Wednesday (or, whatever day you're reading this) to you! I'm going to start off with a question for you ... what do you think of when you hear the word "ritual"? I'll bet it's pretty close to the Google definition: a religious ceremony consisting of a series of actions performed according to a prescribed order as in "the role of ritual in religion". That last word is probably the one most associated with the concept and possibly a little off-putting for some. Recently, though, I've had the opportunity to think of it not as a noun, but as an adjective such as relating to or done as a solemn rite. This could apply to a sequence of activities that don't belong in church, but do have a certain "sacredness" about them and I'm all for seeing our lives as blessed or cherished.
What kind of activities could we place in the meaningful, even spiritual context?? Anything we want! It's all a matter of how we look at it. Let's start at the beginning of the day -- last week, while on a call with one of my coaches (it takes a village, Sweetie!) she reminded me of the power of making my bed. As we talked about that simple action, I could see myself switching from mindlessly doing a "chore" to being present for a caring opening to my morning. Already I felt better about moving forward.
Ever since that conversation I've been looking for ways to create sacredness throughout my day. Meditating is a meaningful practice unto itself and so is making my breakfast. By combining gratitude and joy, my cup of coffee and waffles can become a kind of ceremony. In fact, every meal qualifies as a devotion to my health and well-being.
I haven't worked out in a gym since the pandemic, although I intend to start up again soon. When I did in the past, I usually had my headset on with melodies I carefully chose for each activity. I'm chuckling as I remember that I would often use weights with "church" music -- imagine Il Divo's Ave Maria. It elevated my efforts to new heights.
What daily tasks can you upgrade to a ritual? Play around with the idea. Light candles and/or incense before you sit down at your desk to get some work done. Put on a special scarf or earrings before going outside or walking the dog. Simply be thankful every time you get to do ... anything! Bow to the Universe before getting in the car. The whole idea is to pay attention, be present, and see how everything can change and become sacred -- what and how you eat, your quality of sleep, your choices throughout the day. What a lovely way to improve your overall health. Remember, be care-full.
Are you feeling like you can't get excited about much of anything lately and you'd like to? Send me an email and we can set up a complimentary Discovery Session -- who knows what we might uncover? It could be fun!
Happy Healthy Habit Hump Day,
