The power of rituals How to build meaningful habits

The power of zeremoniells How to build meaningful habitsThe power of rituals How to build meaningful habitsYou are what you repeatedly do.?- AristotleOur future is notlage shaped by big decisions or events, but by our daily habits. What you repeatedly do - your choices - defines who you become.Rituals give us a sense of control. Im not talking about religious ceremonies, esoteric chanting or obsessive-compulsive behaviors. Rather, the mora practical and down-to-earth kind of ritual that makes us feel in charge.Think about a job interview, a presentation in front of a large audience, or a first date. When facing uncertain situations, rituals help us focus, deal with anxiety, or feel mora confident.Rituals increase our performance by turning small, everyday acts into more significant ones. They add meaning and joy to our lives.The Power ofRitualsChange requires more than a functional approach - no method will work if your heart is not into it. Rituals are symbolic enactments - we engage our emotions and move into action.We turn to rituals when we are facing a situation where the outcome is important, uncertain or beyond our control, as Bronislaw Malinowski suggests.The anthropologist discovered that Trobrianders practiced magical rituals when fishing in the open sea - they wanted to ensure safety. But didnt exercise any ceremony when fishing in the inner lagoon, where they were no sharks.We usually associate rituals with maintaining the status quo. In religion, for example, ceremonies create a sense of belonging and continuity. Repetition drives familiarity.Though the nature of rituals is highly emotional, research shows they are more rational than we think.We see in every culture - and throughout history - that people who perform rituals report feeling better, says behavioral scientist Michael Norton.Rituals performed after a loss help us alleviate grief, and rituals performed before high-pressure tasks reduce anxiety and increase confidence.Studiesby Mi chael I. Norton, Francesca Gino, and colleagues prove the multiple benefits of using rituals even among those who dont believe in the efficacy of rituals.Participants had to write about either the death of a loved one or the end of a relationship. Those who performed a ritual after suffering a loss reported feeling bothmore in controlandless aggrieved.Surprisingly, the majority of the mentioned rituals were neither religious nor communal. Rather, they were personal, private, and occasionally angry. One woman wrote about gathering all the pictures of her and her ex-boyfriend, taking them to the park where they met, and tearing them up. She made a point of saying even the ones where I looked good, which I loved. - Norton shares.Additional research suggests that practicing rituals mitigates grief caused by not only life-changing losses but also from more mundane ones (like losing the lottery).The power of rituals goes even further - they can shape our self-perception.Seeing Is Believ ingWhen you compete every week, when you play under pressure daily, you find your rituals to be 100 percent focused on what youre doing. - RafaelNadalStudies show that superstitious rituals are effective too - we dont become luckier, but they boost our self-confidence.People who received a lucky golf ball or someone told them Ill cross my fingers for you performed much better compared to others who didnt receive that stimuli. Superstitious rituals enhance peoples perceived abilities - they motivate greater effort and improved subsequent performance.Sports psychologists know that pre-performance routines improve focus, execution, and confidence.Rafael Nadal, one of the best tennis players in history, isfull of quirks, rituals, and tics. While they may look like superstitious or obsessive-compulsive behavior, he insists they help him focus on his game. Before every serve, Nadal repeats the same sequence - butt scratch, shoulder, shoulder, nose, ear, nose, ear, right hand in pocket .As anthropologist Barbara Myerhoff put it, Not only is seeing believing, doing is believing.Tony Robbins believes that movement not only energizes us but changes our state of mind too. He gets himself in the zone before taking the stage - Robbins is known for bouncing on a trampoline to get his body awake and alive. The motivational speaker uses rituals to boost his energy so he can keep up with his vast audience.Rituals kill procrastination - they reduce anxiety andhelp us launchour projects.As Francesca Gino, the author ofSidetracked,explains,If you engage in a ritual prior to a potentially high anxiety task, like singing in public or solving difficult math problems, you end up being calmer by the time you approach the task, and more confident.Daily rituals build a positive mindset and drive us it into action.Rituals Create Emotional ConnectionHabits are something that we do without thinking.We all brush our teeth daily without thinking. Thats the benefit of habits, once we rep eatedly do something, we get used to it - the behavior becomes automated. Rituals, on the contrary, are more meaningful - theyincrease mindfulness.According to sociologist Robert Wuthnow, rituals are anyactions or events that have symbolic meaning beyond their instrumental value.Youd probably watched the folding of an American flag on a movie. This ritual is not about easy storage or showmanship - each of the 13 folds has asymbolic meaning. The first fold of the flag is a symbol of life. The second fold is a symbol of our belief in eternal life. The third fold is made in honor of the veteran departing rank. And so on.A ritual is like a celebration - it involves our emotions and full attention.Rituals are ultra-specific step-by-step instructions that are easily repeatable and help you get a specific outcome.A ritualis something done to prepare for actiona habitis something done repeatedly for the purpose of performing the action itself.Automated versus mindful actsHabits develop without us knowing it - after various repetitions, our brain switches to automatic mode. Rituals, on the other hand, are done with deliberate intention and focus. A ritual requires intent and engagement.Maya Angelou rented a hotel room and removed all possible distractions such as photographs, books or TV. She started working every day at 7 AM sharp. Armed with a bottle of sherry, a deck of cards, legal pads, a thesaurus, and the Bible, she spent hours writing in this carefully designed environment.Singular versus multiple focusedA habit usually involves one specific action that you do over and over again. Flossing your teeth is a habit. Or drinking water once you wake up. Rituals involve different elements and activities - they include multiple habits.Mark Twain got into his study early in the morning and remained there until 5 PM. He always skipped lunch, and no one dared to interrupt him - they would blow a waldhorn if theyve ever needed him. After dinner, he would read that d ays work to his family.Action-oriented versus system-orientedA habit is an action that you started at some point, and now continue doing without thinking - its action-oriented. A ritual is a sequence of activities - its performed in a particular place and according to set progredienzion.A ritual must have a clearbeginning, middle, and end.Take rites of passage as an example. They have three clear phases separation, transition, and incorporation.In the first stage, the initiates areseparatedfrom their old identities. The second stage is full of ambiguity - they are transitioning from their old identities, but have not yet acquired a new one. In the final stage, the initiates are symbolicallyincorporatedin the new community.Rituals are habits that have become sacred because these carry a deep meaning to those involved.How to build more meaningful habits1. Rituals increase appreciationRituals turn the ordinary into something meaningful.Toasting before we drink is a common ritual. It doesnt affect the quality of what we drink, but it makes it taste better. Rituals create a more positive mindset but also increase our attention - we learn to appreciatethe whole experience.Ever feel that you arent stopping to enjoy the small things in your life? Build a ritual that can bring together what you enjoy and love with what you have to do.Rituals increase awareness and appreciation in our daily lives - we stopliving on autopilot.2. Rituals transform themundaneIts necessary to create a special space and practice to protect what matters to us. Whether its taking a bath, reading a book, practicing meditation or just winding down listening to music, our personal time is precious.Benjamin Franklin took time to reflect twice every day. Warren Buffett spends80% of his day readingbecause it builds up his knowledge like compound interest. Sheryl Sandberg feels guilty for leaving the Facebook office when theres light out, but she promised herself shedalways be home by 6 PMto hav e dinner with her children.Frustrated for never having the right moment to do what you want? Design a ritual that will help you protect the space, time, and energy to take care of yourself.Rituals turn ordinary experiences into sacred ones.3. Rituals help celebrate lifeWe are usually so busy that we miss noticing the good things in our lives. Rituals provide an emotional and rewarding way to celebrate good news - no matter how small or big.Camino Information Servicesbuys an Angry Bird desk plush toy for every new hire - people pick one to fit their personality.Taboolahas a sales bell they ring every time they close a new contract. The6pxgruppe has gamified its workflow to encourage completing tasks and create enjoyable conversation - they add a word to a hashtag after completing a significant task. Everyone keeps building from there.Do you feel like you do not appreciate progress? Create a ritual to remind yourself to celebrate small victories.Rituals are not obsessive behavior, but a way of celebrating life.4. Rituals build a stronger communityWe cannot change the world alone. Collective rituals are as important as individual ones.Thehuman megaphoneused by Occupy Wall Street protesters was more than an ingenious solution to NYC restrictions to electric ones. It became a ritual for participants to publicly live their values of do-it-yourself sufficiency and collectivity.Frustrated with people not collaborating? Design a ritual to reinforce the emotional connection between your team - rituals are much more effective than words.Rituals bring people together around a shared experience.5. Rituals help us jump intoactionA good ritual creates an emotional connection with our tasks. Work doesnt feel like work, but something more interesting.Stephen King writes every day of the year no matter his birthday or holidays. No surprise, he is one of the most prolific authors ever. Ernest Heming followed a strict writing regimen done by noon, drunk by three. He wrote fur iously and kept count of how many words he achieved every day. Joan Didion holds her books close to her heart literally. When shes about to finish one, shell sleep beside it in the same room.Tired of experimenting with productivity hacks? Build your own ritual. Create an experience that is true to who you are and will create excitement.Rituals are anything but passive they move you into action.Rituals are personal find and design an experience that fits your emotions and needs, not someone elses.Rituals help you enjoy the journey and provide a sense of purpose to your life. They offer a sense of renewal a time-out from your everyday routine.Rituals are evolving daily practices. What works today, might not be so effective tomorrow. A ritual is not the destination, but the journey.Gustavo Razzettiis a change instigator whohelps people andorganizations create positive change. Author, Consultant, and Speaker on team development and cultural transformation.Thisarticlefirst appeared onMed ium.