Day 018

#100Days

Rituals

Rituals and habits are quite close, one interesting detail about rituals, to me, is that rituals can be enjoyed more, they're more conscious activities. Habits are usually automatic, and people hardly notice they're practising a habit. But rituals.., there's a whole preparation to it, expectations set, moments thought through, planned schedule, etc.

Rituals are special.

On the other hand, cultivating rituals can make you frustrated, grumpy, moody, and a whole bunch of negative feelings, when the expectations you hold against your rituals are not met.

Ok, rituals can be then just some egoistic approach to a life with some level of sophistication. And that makes them something I'd avoid cultivating.

But habits are also not 100%. The idea of having some automatic benefit without putting conscious effort on it is quite attractive. But then, where is the mindfullness?

Let me try to list pros and cons of each.

Habits:

• Pros:

  • Effortless;
  • Constructive, if properly built;
  • Grow stronger over time;

• Cons:

  • Unconscious;
  • Hard to get rid of, if it's an old one;
  • Can be quite destructive;

Rituals:

• Pros:

  • Tasteful;
  • Conscious;
  • Motivational / stimulating;

• Cons:

  • Can be addictive;
  • Can make you soft / spoiled;

Moderation seems to be a good way to deal with it. Finding a point of balance not to allow yourself to get addicted to a good habit you wanted to build, or not to press yourself down because you must create a habit, reaching a point where it becomes unhealthy to you.

In other words, again, there is not right answer to it. Don't enslave yourself to those who promise you rewards if you act exactly like they ask you to. Listen, consider, but then do your own thing, even if your own thing is a remix of everything you have collected so far.