Good rituals are essential to our emotional, psychological, and spiritual health. Developing daily practices ground you and help keep you connect to your well-being. This weekend, try incorporating these simple and beneficial rituals into your daily routine. Then try to keep one or more of them going, all week long.
Welcome the Day
Many ancient cultures had some form of morning ritual, and even now most people have a pattern for starting their day, even if it's coffee from the same cafe. Use this exercise to put your mind into a positive frame and prepare your entire body for whatever stresses lie ahead.
- Before getting out of bed, lie quietly for a few moments. Say a word of thanks for this new day, and the gift of life.
- Dab grapefruit or another essential oil on a cloth that you'll use solely for this ritual, and breathe in the aroma.
- Get up and stand in front of a mirror. Smile at yourself and affirm that this will be a good day, full of blessings, opportunities, and wonder. Say aloud, "I look forward to a wonderful day," or any affirmation with personal significance.
Share the Family Meal
Virtually every culture has a tradition of blessing food, cooking and eating mindfully, and giving thanks for the gift of nourishment.
- Set a specific time for a weekly dinner. Every member of the family, even small children, should be in charge of contributing something—even if it's just stirring the pot or setting the table. Focus your intention as you chop, mix, and blend.
- Before eating, light a candle, then hold hands and acknowledge the gifts in your life. Feel free to create a special family blessing.
- Eat your meal with mindfulness. Encourage silence as everyone savors the taste and texture of their food. Reflect on the long journey from farm to table, and how lucky you are to be eating such delicious, nourishing food. When the meal is finished, blow out the candle.
Sleep Well
We drop our defenses and become vulnerable at bedtime. Ease yourself into a state of physical and mental relaxation with this ritual.
- Change (or bathe) with intention. As you take off your clothes, visualize all your daytime anxieties and concerns dropping away. As you wash, imagine that you cleanse away all the negativity of the day.
- Write down all the positive things that happened during your day.
- Dab lavender oil on a handkerchief and place it near the bed. Lie down, breathe in the soothing scent of the oil, and cast your mind back over the day without judgment.
Read about more Balancing Acts
Daily Rituals to Keep You Balanced
Question: Which rituals do you practice on a regular basis?
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