Issue 34 / Understanding The Importance Of Rituals And Self-Care

by Dimple Mukherjee

Understanding The Importance Of Rituals And Self-Care

Jan 26, 2016

Sometimes being a creature of habit can be a good thing. It's time to relish in the art of daily rituals for your well being.

Rituals are like mantras to me. They hold a sacred space in my life and just like mantras and repetitive chants, rituals are rhythmic and soothing. In fact, it’s hilarious that my girlfriend who stayed over last night thought I was insane for getting up at 6:00 am on a Sunday for my usual ritualistic morning, something I look forward to with much anticipation each and every day. Here’s why:

"In a world going too fast, with too much to do and too many distractions, many people struggle to bring meaning and purpose to their lives. Rituals create sanity in an insane world. They bring focus to our lives. They bring families together. They help athletes excel. They harness the energy of a community. They help businesses pull teams together around a common purpose. Every successful person has them and every culture is grounded in them. Everyday rituals are conscious, intentional habits. They help you manage your time, your energy and your thinking to create balance and rhythm." ~ Your Hidden Riches by Janet Bray Attwood, Chris Attwood and Sylvia Dvorak.

Do you long to create rituals in your life to bring you a sense of flow? Flow is a state that is desirable because it allows you to sync into the rhythm of life not just with ease but with enjoyment as well. Here are some simply ways to invite rituals into your life. I personally love morning rituals as they set the tone for the day to come but feel free to adapt this to any time of the day you wish. More importantly, it should work for you:

Claim Your Energy For The Day: As soon as you wake up in the morning, either state an affirmation or set an intention for the day. Your intention can even be simple words such as “energize”, “self love” or “nourishing."

Journal: Morning pages as created by Julia Cameron are a great way to start your day. It’s a ritual that I’m in love with and I think of this activity as a mind dump. Writing is therapeutic and will help you to gain the clarity you need to start your day off right.

Meditate: There is so much research on the benefits of meditation so this is an easy sell! Doesn’t have to be long at all. Even a few minutes of meditation will serve you well.

^{Morning rituals can be the best way to start your day. However it can be any time of day, as long as it works for you.

Photo Credit: www.eskipaper.com}

Essential Oils: I keep essential oils all over my home. Engaging our senses, such as through smell, is a ritual that really speaks to me. I use Do Terra’s Balance Oil to evoke the feeling of being grounded. It’s a great oil to wake up kids with by rubbing it onto the soles of their feet.

Make Tea: One can’t help but automatically think of rituals when thinking of tea. The act of tea making can be very soothing and it’s a bonus that tea carries with it many nutritional benefits. Try replacing your morning coffee with a cup of tea and notice the difference in the quality of your energy.

If you are craving more rituals and rhythms in your life, sign up for a FREE 17 page Self Care & Sanctuary Kit here.

^{Main Image Photo Credit: www.sherifogartywellness.com}

Dimple Mukherjee

Author

Dimple Mukherjee is an Occupational Therapist with over 20 years of experience and has obtained specific training in Health Coaching through the Institute of Integrative Nutrition. She is the founder of Whole Self Consulting and is passionate about helping South Asian working mothers to reinve...