The Quiet Power of Ritual

Our daily lives often hold rituals, small repeated acts that shape our minds, our moods, our wellbeing, our days.

For me, it’s the morning coffee and my word puzzles. I wake early, make my brew, and dim the lights. I sit in my armchair and, after checking my emails and Facebook feed from overnight, I do my word puzzles. There are several I do, and there is a particular order in which I like to undertake them.

The dogs are still sleeping, and I sit in the quiet. A moment of stillness, a pause before the day roars at me.

I think we underestimate the value of rituals. They may seem ordinary, even trivial, but they anchor us. They remind us that life is about presence. I feel settled and well once my morning rituals are done. I feel ready to get prepared for the day and for work.

But there are other rituals I have. Walking the dogs, a book before bed, selecting the soundtrack for my drive into the office. These aren’t just habits, they are structure in a chaotic world. In a world that feels like it’s out of control, there is something revolutionary about repetition, about gaining some control and saying, “this time is mine, this action is mine.”

So today I’m raising my mug to the small rituals.

What are yours?