Ritual as a Path to Health

When we were growing up, my sister and I enjoyed morning parties each year on our birthday. Then as well, through our college years and beyond, during the post-college-we-live-in-a-house-with-roomates-and-mom-sent-a-party-in-a-box-for-roommates-to-setup years (And still do! We have trained our husbands to carry on this tradition. Whee!).

Recently, on my daughter's 7th birthday, we were all up before 7 a.m. enjoying the presents and treats of The Morning Party. As I was up late the night before setting the table, wrapping her presents and putting out treats so she would be wowed upon coming downstairs in the morning, I found myself thinking about the concept of ritual. Things that just must be done. For our family, on your birthday, that is a morning party.

Rituals give us a point of reference in our lives. Something to look forward to! And while many of the rituals that come to mind in our society are group activities—think holiday dinners, Super Bowl parties, beach trips on Memorial Day, BBQ's on July Fourth—it's worth exploring where the ritual is for you in your daily life.

For you alone. What are you doing to create ritual?

If we want to talk about radical self-care (and I love to) we will talk about creating ritual around things like daily prayer or meditation. Daily body-love through movement that feels good for you. A bath at the end of a long day with delicious smelling oils. Eating foods that create the most energy and the best mood. When we practice this high level of self-care in our daily lives we create an abundance of love and inspiration that will flow over to the ones we love who surround us. The ritual of 'filling our own cup first'.

“But it's too selfish of me to take an hour (or even 15 minutes) for myself everyday. Isn't it?”

I challenge that it is selfish not to create a ritual of self-care in your daily life. Think about it for a moment. Aren't the “I'm too busy...” and the "But, I have to..." and the "Everyone needs something from me so I don't have time..." just a way for us to run away from ourselves and what's really going on?

As one of my teachers recently said—Yes. Because sometimes it's really, really hard to come to terms with what thoughts or feelings come up during your ritual. The beauty lies in doing it anyway. Everyday. And then seeing the amazing awesomeness that is you. Right here. See?

Take a deep breath in and feel the gratitude for all that you have and all you are doing to create time in your day to do something that brings you joy. Try to imagine all that will unfold and be revealed now that you have radically loved yourself a bit. I can see it. Can you?