When many people hear the word “ritual” they think of cults, religious groups or mystical experiences. I’ve used rituals for years and for me they are like a habit. They are something I come to rely on signify a shift in focus, punctuating and event, marking a meaningful experience or to help relieve stress. They are actions I take that are grounding and bring me to a present state.
One of the things I find when working with clients is that some form of ritual helps them reduce anxiety. It can be starting your day meditating, pulling a card from a set of healing cards or reciting a poem that has meaning to you, the choice is yours. When we create rituals we create structure. Overwhelmingly structure helps reduce stress and allows us to move forward with our plans even when they are challenging.
When everything else in life is chaotic, as it often is when facing a life-altering diagnosis, structure can be soothing. Having something, even if it’s just one thing that we can count on reduces our level of anxiety. It grants us the capacity to take a moment to breathe and then make more conscious decisions.
Anything that reduces stress and brings clarity will certainly aid in improving your health. Just because the word “ritual” may seem foreign, don’t let it cloud the benefits of the practice.
Pilgrim Pathway/Surviving Strong 