Happy New Year!
Yesterday, I was thinking about my post on darkness and silence and realized I was grieving my sense of peace amongst all the year-end lists and visions for 2024.
I’m the first to admit I love shiny, new things but this year, instead of starting the New Year like a racehorse in the starting gate, I’m determined to start softly with small changes I can sustain.
My morning routine is now a morning ritual.
When I think about a routine, it’s something to do. There’s a “get ‘r done” energy behind it. A pressure, maybe even a little bit of anxiety or desperation. There are plenty of times I’m on auto-pilot and go from one task to another without thought or presence, just ticking boxes. I’m certainly not aware of my body about what it’s communicating.
On the other hand, a ritual is a habit with intention.
Instead of rushing automatically to the next thing, I pause for a moment to take 3 deep breaths and check-in. I think I’ll put several reminders on my phone, because this is new to me. (I feel more present already.)
I’ve also committed to NOT looking a my phone for the first hour of the day. I want to wake up my mind by reading instead of feeding it social media junk food or distracting myself with emails and the demands of the outside world.
The dark and quiet early mornings are for me and my inner world. It’s my time for pondering, satisfying my curiosity and noticing.
Even though the nights are getting shorter, you haven’t missed the bus. There’s still plenty of darkness and silence to snuggle into. Plenty of time to create a ritual that nourishes you.
And you can start anytime.
How can you turn your routine into a ritual? What do you need to put in place to support your choices?
Here’s to Presence & Intention in 2024
