I believe that coming to this site daily has become a rutual…I miss it very much when something interferes with my morning “ritual”. I also read some words of prayer or gratitude each morning and thank God for another day.It has taken me a day to answer this question as at first I could not think of any “ritual”. I wish my habits- rituals had more of a ceremony attached to them…But my time is simple…I read, I write here and I pray. And I thank all that come to this very special and holy site.
Coming to this site has become a daily ritual and I am grateful for so much wisdom and advice. Today I signed up for a weekly Addiction recovery program thru my church for both addicts and families. This is based on Richard Rohr’s book “breathing under Water” Spirituality and the 12 steps`. I just listened to a Youtube about it. I am looking forward to Attending a session and seeing if it may be a routine or ritual. I also did 2 exercise classes (one yoga) today which need to be more routine but I am working on it.
I need to figure out a morning ritual; I do come to this site almost every day, but it is often rushed and I don’t really take too much time to actually FEEL the gratitude or truly digest the word of the day. I feel a bit like a zombie lately, rushing through life and scraping by. I’ve been saying for a long time that I need to carve out time in the morning for meditation or gratitude journaling; I just need to wake up earlier and commit to doing it.
I remember this question being asked before and thinking about the distinction between routines and rituals. I have morning routines and my day starts better if I follow them than if I go off in 47 different directions. However, at this point in my life I don’t feel the need to create ritual for the sake of having ritual. I could consider it as a means of increasing my mindful approach to the morning routine, but I can practice mindfulness without additional labels.
Great question – had to first pause on considering the difference between routine and ritual. In so doing, my reviewing my purpose and mission before delving into tasks is at the top of my list – clearly this vital orienting step is deserving of the pause and intentionality of ritual.
Taking the time to eat without distraction and really take time to think about what I am putting into my body, and thanking God for providing this nourishment.
I just read this online things to ask yourself:
Where did this food come from? How did it find it’s way to me? Who may have helped in the process? This may deter you from eating certain foods (like Cheetos that sat in a vending machine for a year) or may encourage you to be grateful for the good nutritious foods you eat, the farmers who grew it, the drivers who delivered it, etc.
I think I need “both” daily routines and ritual in my every day life and “just bopping” around (discovery). That is the insight I had here. In short, I see the common thread required as greater intentionality and clarity and, of course, true inner discipline. When I fall short, my inner discipline is weak or lacking. Clarity is a strength. Little things indeed can be and often are large and important things. I need to think, “eternity and a day”. Bringing early morning coffee to MA is a ritual. My EXAMEN and that writing and carrying others hopes, a ritual. Containing worries through prayer and silence. Seeing the Mass as a ritual. Daily walking. Lots of opportunities here to do better.
Ah, such a good idea. I think I will try
turning my morning up of coffee into more
of a ritual. Instead of doing other things
while drinking it, I will treat it with a bit
more ceremony and a jumping off point
for my gratitude practice.
Thank you for this. I need more rituals in
my life. 🙏
I’m not sure there’s a routine in my life that cries out for meaning and ritual. I engage in centering prayer each day, and that provides depth to my mundane routines and activities.
My daily commute, a routine which has transformed innto a ritual that I greatly benefit from every day., provides quiet time for reflection, comfort of my own private space and readies me for the day ahead….a good day!
Three of them have become rituals over the course of the past 14 months or so. It began with exploration of meditation and yoga March 2022 as it was a part of the Cognitive Based Therapy I entered. I was then introduced to the concept of gratitude and introduced to Palouse Mindfulness Stress Reduction course from an Intensive Outpatient Therapy program. From there I was led to Tara Brach, the Daily Calm and Dr. Lynn Rossy, I have made a ritual of a daily reflection on this site, a daily meditation and a 20-minute mindful yoga routine. By beginning each new day, today, this day that I have been gifted with these three rituals my mental health and the addicted room in my mind that the monkey so much enjoys occupying have become more manageable. Thank you all. Namaste.
As I think about today’s question, I’d say that many of my daily routines are already a ritual, because I do them the same way every day and usually without thinking much about it.
Answering the Daily Question each and every day is a ritual for me. I’ve been joyously doing so since 2014. So thank you, Gratefulness team, for keeping this site and all that you do going!
It is my care for the water that I use for consumption. I store the water in a copper jug and when I refill the jug, I treat it with reverence. I spend a moment of gratitude and reverence before I consume water for its elixir like life-giving qualities. I drink with both hands as a way of revering it. As I refill the jug, I give thanks and mindfully offer love to the water. If available, I place a flower on the jug and like to light a candle beside it as part of my morning water rituals.
You just gave me a wonderful answer to my own question, Don, thank you! My original thought about today’s question was, why would we care if something we do every day becomes a ritual or not? Your answer was perfect!
I think anything can be ritualistic from a morning routine of ablutions, meditation, reflection, prayer and exercise to making your morning coffee. Mindfully carrying out simple daily tasks from brushing your teeth to washing the dishes or preparing a meal can have the feel of a ritual. My morning coffee is definitely one, it grounds me, measuring and hand grinding the beans, tamping the grounds down into the basket, steaming the milk and then sitting quietly to take the first sips, I drink about half and then I open my diary and plan the day ahead, journal, sometimes visit this website, and reflect. I think a regular morning walk can become another of my rituals, it needs to be, I don’t always manage it and need to incorporate into my morning routine. I think it becomes a ritual if I strive to do it daily, and I’m doing it mindfully, from dressing appropriately, lacing up my trainers, putting the harness on the dog, setting off and observing my surroundings, the route, the changes in the weather, trees and plants, paying attention to the rhythm and movement of my body, the sounds, smells, the feel of the air and sun or rain on my face.
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I believe that coming to this site daily has become a rutual…I miss it very much when something interferes with my morning “ritual”. I also read some words of prayer or gratitude each morning and thank God for another day.It has taken me a day to answer this question as at first I could not think of any “ritual”. I wish my habits- rituals had more of a ceremony attached to them…But my time is simple…I read, I write here and I pray. And I thank all that come to this very special and holy site.
Coming to this site has become a daily ritual and I am grateful for so much wisdom and advice. Today I signed up for a weekly Addiction recovery program thru my church for both addicts and families. This is based on Richard Rohr’s book “breathing under Water” Spirituality and the 12 steps`. I just listened to a Youtube about it. I am looking forward to Attending a session and seeing if it may be a routine or ritual. I also did 2 exercise classes (one yoga) today which need to be more routine but I am working on it.
Kindness to you and yours Robin Ann.
I need to figure out a morning ritual; I do come to this site almost every day, but it is often rushed and I don’t really take too much time to actually FEEL the gratitude or truly digest the word of the day. I feel a bit like a zombie lately, rushing through life and scraping by. I’ve been saying for a long time that I need to carve out time in the morning for meditation or gratitude journaling; I just need to wake up earlier and commit to doing it.
I remember this question being asked before and thinking about the distinction between routines and rituals. I have morning routines and my day starts better if I follow them than if I go off in 47 different directions. However, at this point in my life I don’t feel the need to create ritual for the sake of having ritual. I could consider it as a means of increasing my mindful approach to the morning routine, but I can practice mindfulness without additional labels.
Absolutely nailed it. Thank you Barb.
After reading your response I wonder if good framing for this is “a ritual is something that happens naturally, not something you create.”
Great question – had to first pause on considering the difference between routine and ritual. In so doing, my reviewing my purpose and mission before delving into tasks is at the top of my list – clearly this vital orienting step is deserving of the pause and intentionality of ritual.
Taking the time to eat without distraction and really take time to think about what I am putting into my body, and thanking God for providing this nourishment.
I just read this online things to ask yourself:
Where did this food come from? How did it find it’s way to me? Who may have helped in the process? This may deter you from eating certain foods (like Cheetos that sat in a vending machine for a year) or may encourage you to be grateful for the good nutritious foods you eat, the farmers who grew it, the drivers who delivered it, etc.
I think I need “both” daily routines and ritual in my every day life and “just bopping” around (discovery). That is the insight I had here. In short, I see the common thread required as greater intentionality and clarity and, of course, true inner discipline. When I fall short, my inner discipline is weak or lacking. Clarity is a strength. Little things indeed can be and often are large and important things. I need to think, “eternity and a day”. Bringing early morning coffee to MA is a ritual. My EXAMEN and that writing and carrying others hopes, a ritual. Containing worries through prayer and silence. Seeing the Mass as a ritual. Daily walking. Lots of opportunities here to do better.
Ah, such a good idea. I think I will try
turning my morning up of coffee into more
of a ritual. Instead of doing other things
while drinking it, I will treat it with a bit
more ceremony and a jumping off point
for my gratitude practice.
Thank you for this. I need more rituals in
my life. 🙏
I believe my daily routine of coming onto this site is a ritual.
I’m not sure there’s a routine in my life that cries out for meaning and ritual. I engage in centering prayer each day, and that provides depth to my mundane routines and activities.
My daily commute, a routine which has transformed innto a ritual that I greatly benefit from every day., provides quiet time for reflection, comfort of my own private space and readies me for the day ahead….a good day!
Three of them have become rituals over the course of the past 14 months or so. It began with exploration of meditation and yoga March 2022 as it was a part of the Cognitive Based Therapy I entered. I was then introduced to the concept of gratitude and introduced to Palouse Mindfulness Stress Reduction course from an Intensive Outpatient Therapy program. From there I was led to Tara Brach, the Daily Calm and Dr. Lynn Rossy, I have made a ritual of a daily reflection on this site, a daily meditation and a 20-minute mindful yoga routine. By beginning each new day, today, this day that I have been gifted with these three rituals my mental health and the addicted room in my mind that the monkey so much enjoys occupying have become more manageable. Thank you all. Namaste.
Joseph, it occurred to me that you might appreciate the book Meditations from the Mat, which I’m working my way through now. https://bookshop.org/p/books/meditations-from-the-mat-daily-reflections-on-the-path-of-yoga-katrina-kenison/8326263?ean=9780385721547. The author Rolf Gates, a yoga instructor who has also worked on his own recovery, has written other books I haven’t read including Daily Reflections on Addiction, Yoga, and Getting Well https://bookshop.org/p/books/daily-reflections-on-addiction-yoga-and-getting-well-rolf-gates/8295571?ean=9781401953966.
Thank you, Barb. I will check out these links.
As I think about today’s question, I’d say that many of my daily routines are already a ritual, because I do them the same way every day and usually without thinking much about it.
Answering the Daily Question each and every day is a ritual for me. I’ve been joyously doing so since 2014. So thank you, Gratefulness team, for keeping this site and all that you do going!
It is my care for the water that I use for consumption. I store the water in a copper jug and when I refill the jug, I treat it with reverence. I spend a moment of gratitude and reverence before I consume water for its elixir like life-giving qualities. I drink with both hands as a way of revering it. As I refill the jug, I give thanks and mindfully offer love to the water. If available, I place a flower on the jug and like to light a candle beside it as part of my morning water rituals.
Agua es Vida. You certainly summed it up for me Don. Thank you.
You just gave me a wonderful answer to my own question, Don, thank you! My original thought about today’s question was, why would we care if something we do every day becomes a ritual or not? Your answer was perfect!
That’s beautiful Don.
I think anything can be ritualistic from a morning routine of ablutions, meditation, reflection, prayer and exercise to making your morning coffee. Mindfully carrying out simple daily tasks from brushing your teeth to washing the dishes or preparing a meal can have the feel of a ritual. My morning coffee is definitely one, it grounds me, measuring and hand grinding the beans, tamping the grounds down into the basket, steaming the milk and then sitting quietly to take the first sips, I drink about half and then I open my diary and plan the day ahead, journal, sometimes visit this website, and reflect. I think a regular morning walk can become another of my rituals, it needs to be, I don’t always manage it and need to incorporate into my morning routine. I think it becomes a ritual if I strive to do it daily, and I’m doing it mindfully, from dressing appropriately, lacing up my trainers, putting the harness on the dog, setting off and observing my surroundings, the route, the changes in the weather, trees and plants, paying attention to the rhythm and movement of my body, the sounds, smells, the feel of the air and sun or rain on my face.