How To Practice Life-Affirming Rituals Every Day

Do you practice life-affirming rituals every day? Maybe you exercise every day because you know it’s good for your body, and, certainly, you brush your teeth every day because you know it prevents cavities (Why Self-Care Is Important For Your Physical And Mental Health). But what about life-affirming rituals? What purpose do they serve?

What Are Life-Affirming Rituals?

Life-affirming rituals are habits you form, just like teeth-brushing and exercising, in order to take care of yourself. They are intentional acts that promote your wellbeing, improve your quality of life, and build your emotional resilience.

The life-affirming rituals I practice every day are getting up early to meditate, keeping a written gratitude list, and listening to inspirational podcasts when I work out. I find that when I do these things, I am happier and more peaceful.

How to Incorporate Life-Affirming Rituals into Your Day

You can incorporate life-affirming rituals into your day in the same way you form any habit. Set an intention, make it easy for yourself to practice the intention, and grow the practice.

First, set an intention which is a life-affirming goal that you want to cultivate in yourself; and every day, remind yourself of the intention. If it helps, set a timer to go off during the day to remind you to think about your intention or write it down and tape it to your bathroom mirror.

Second, be realistic. Commit to realizing your intention in a way that’s easy for you. Start off each morning with just five minutes of time focused on practicing the intention. For example, if you want to cultivate appreciation as a life-affirming ritual, when you sit down at the breakfast table, pause before you eat and think of every person who had a hand in getting that food to your plate.

Next, grow the practice. If you started with five minutes of manifesting your intention, then grow the practice to 10 minutes. Or try to practice for five minutes several times throughout a day. If you do this, before long, you will have incorporated a life-affirming ritual into your daily routine.

Practicing Life-Affirming Rituals Every Day Is Necessary

I truly believe that nurturing yourself is not a luxury. It is a necessity. Your happiness and wellbeing are dependent on engaging in regular self-care (You Can Practice Self-Care on a Budget). So invest in yourself and make an effort to cultivate life-affirming rituals every day.

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Image from Pixabay user GLady.