As we mark another Independence Day, it’s worth pausing to reflect on how rituals—big or small—shape our sense of self and belonging. Rooted in tradition, rituals can give us moments of comfort and meaning in the everyday, helping us feel more grounded.
Rituals, whether shared nationally, with family, or practiced alone, offer a gentle anchor in the chaos. National rituals offer a chance to reflect on the past, present, and future of our country. Family rituals, like shared meals or bedtime routines, create a sense of togetherness and security. Personal rituals, such as a mindful breakfast or a gratitude jar, help us reconnect with ourselves and our values.
To bring more groundedness into your days, you could consider adopting the following rituals:
You have the freedom to shape your own rituals, drawing from what feels meaningful and letting go of what doesn’t serve you. Trust that these small acts can help you feel more present and connected to yourself and those you love.
Author, political activist, public speaker, and writing teacher Anne Lamott offers the following truth about the path to authenticity:
We begin to find and become ourselves when we notice how we are already found, already truly, entirely, wildly, messily, marvelously who we were born to be.
Author Elizabeth Gilbert highlights how humans have always relied on rituals to find meaning and purpose:
Your job then, should you choose to accept it, is to keep searching for the metaphors, rituals and teachers that will help you move ever closer to divinity. The Yogic scriptures say that God responds to the sacred prayers and efforts of human beings in any way whatsoever that mortals choose to worship—just so long as those prayers are sincere.
I think you have every right to cherry-pick when it comes to moving your spirit and finding peace in God. I think you are free to search for any metaphor whatsoever which will take you across the worldly divide whenever you need to be transported or comforted. It's nothing to be embarrassed about. It's the history of mankind's search for holiness. If humanity never evolved in its exploration of the divine, a lot of us would still be worshipping golden Egyptian statues of cats. And this evolution of religious thinking does involve a fair bit of cherry-picking. You take whatever works from wherever you can find it, and you keep moving toward the light.
from Eat, Pray, Love
What rituals will you practice this weekend?
Learn how rituals can support you in the Managing Stress Journey in the Moment for Parents app.