Rituals for High Vibes
Via Flickr, African Sunset by Umberto Nicolletti
“We first make our habits, and then our habits make us.”
Before I started my spiritual journey, I was waking up feeling the same (miserable) every day, waiting for something to come and change my life for the better. A new partner, new job, new home, there was always something external that I needed to be happy.
Over time, I’ve realized it’s the small habits that build up over time that create the life of our dreams. You’ve gotten to where you’re at in life not overnight, but through years and years of behaving in a certain way. That new “whatever” might bring you joy for a moment in time, but if you don’t change the foundation of your life, you’ll quickly slip back into similar feelings and patterns of behaviour.
Rituals are small, daily steps, taken with intention to create certain emotions or outcomes. What’s going to create change in your life is not taking that once a month super relaxing bath (although it will feel good in the moment), or saying you’ll finally work out 5 days a week. Creating sustainable daily habits helps you see progress, making you want to stick to your ritual. They also keep you grounded in chaos. Practicing the small things, even on hard days, is where your self-power comes from.
We are all busy people. Instead of saying you’ll start writing that book (hi!) and spend at least 35 minutes on it daily, why not try 3 minutes a day, and stick to it. Slowly these habits become integrated, and all of a sudden it’s part of our new identity and life. Below, I share 5 daily habits and how they can make an impact.
Pick a set number of days to commit to your new ritual, and notice what shifts you notice in your life! I recommend doing these in the morning, to set your energy for the day, but chose whatever fits best in your schedule.
Meditation (duh!)
If you want to change your life, or feel a different way, you first need to take a pause, in order to do things differently. Meditation allows you to sit with your busy mind, using controlled settings to give you practice for the real world. Be realistic with your meditation goals!!!! If you’re new to the practice, try a 5 minute guided one. If that’s too much, go down to three minutes.
Spend Time Outside
Nature has healing powers (proved by science), and there’s so much abundance to see when we look outside. This is a great ritual if you’re going through changes, as everything is always changing in nature. Think seasons, and the cycle of life-death-rebirth-infinity. Leave your phone inside, and focus on just being.
Walks
A stroll around the block or a 20-minute power walk in the morning will get your body fired up, and clear your mind for the day ahead. Bonus point for music that brings you joy, or a tech-free walk! This is great if you want to take action in your life, and get fired up.
Dance Party
Movement helps release old emotions from the body, and music helps us feel a certain way. Starting your day with a little dance party allows choose differently, and not think for a bit. Try this if you’re ready to do things with a little more joy.
Breathwork
The quickest of the bunch, your ritual can simply be 3 mindful breaths. Practice them before you get out of bed, nice long and slow inhales and exhales, or set a timer for morning, afternoon, and evening to help regulate and soothe yourself.