Harbor Happiness During Hard Times

Harbor Happiness During Hard Times. Jessica Grossmeier Ph.D., MPH. Creating everyday rituals that spark joy and add meaning. Key Points:-. Rituals can enhance quality of life and promote stronger connections to others.

Rituals are a series of actions performed regularly by individuals or groups.

Anyone can create a ritual to mark important milestones or make ordinary

moments more special. The Rules of rituals for happiness:. Daily life filled with challenges to our equilibrium and well-being. In some cases, we may be

overcome with instability and in other cases; the days seem to march on in an unceasing

yawn of sameness. Emerging science suggests rituals can promote mental health and

resilience.

According to social psychologist Shira Gabriel, shared rituals promote feelings of unity that

strengthen our bonds with others. They make everyday moments more meaningful or special

and mark the significance of important life transitions. These benefits of rituals can translate

into higher levels of happiness and life satisfaction.

Though there is no consensus definition of the term, rituals represent a series of actions

performed regularly by an individual or a group. They may be solemn, joyous, or playful.

While many people consider rituals to be an expression of a religious or faith tradition, they

may be adopted by anyone wishing to impart a sense of the sacred through actions and the

use of objects, music, symbols, or language. While the origin of rituals is debated, they have

been observed throughout human story and across all geo-graphics and societies. (Penner,

2016). Essential Ingredients of Rituals:. Casper Ter Kuile shares three key ingredients (intention, attention, and repetition) for the

creation of rituals in his book, “The Power of Rituals.” (Ter Kuile, 2020). Rituals must be developed with clarity around their intention, Consider what feelings,

emotions, or experiences you are inviting into the moment. Examples include respect,

honor, appreciation, celebration, commitment, letting go, welcoming in, gratitude, or

Forgiveness, Rituals can invite both positive and negative emotions. Holding space to

share grief, sadness, and loss are a powerful way to release and express emotions that

might otherwise be suppressed or experienced alone.

 Rituals help us focus our full attention on experiencing and expressing feeling and

emotions. They ground us in the present moment, allowing us to process and reflect

more fully on our inner experience of life. This can help us to enjoy a common

activity more, such a savoring a meal or a glass of wine. (Nauman, 2013) Focal points

that ground our attention might include music, candles, poetry, movement, silence, or

symbols.

 Repetition of rituals helps us mark time. Regular rituals create moments of reflection

that balance and recalibrate our awareness of what matters most of us, infusing

meaning into the fabric of everyday life. They also create memories that mark the

significance of important events. The Recipe of Rituals:-. While rituals are intentional and require thoughtful preparation to create, they do not need to

be overly formal. Kursat Ozenc and Margaret Hagen provide seven steps to designing rituals.

(Ozenc and Hagen, 2019)

Identify the intention of the ritual. What point do you want to make, what message do

you want to convey, what emotion do you want to embody or allow others to express

or experience?

Identify a trigger. This includes the specific time, place, occasion, or people that will

be involved.

Brainstorm ideas, Identify many possible elements of the ritual that might add

meaning or welcome the expression of the intention named in step one.

Identify a symbolic act or a prop. This is what sets the ritual apart and adds special

meaning for those who participate. It might include something that people

participating take with them or set aside to use only for a specific ritual.

Create a narrative with a beginning, middle, and end to the ritual. Think about the

elements of a good story and build it into an experience. Implement a practice session of the ritual. This is an important step because it allows

us to experiment with logistics, timing, and the sequence of a rehearsal before a

wedding.

Codify or document the ritual. Create enough of the ritual replicated and incorporated

into regular practice, assuming it’s a ritual that you want to repeat. Documenting a

ritual can also serve as a keepsake or reminder of the significance of the ritual (e.g.,

weddings, funerals, anniversaries, retirements).

Another aspect to consider is how specific members of a group will contribute to the rituals.

What might they bring, how might they act, how should they prepare for the ritual?

Create a Cadence for Practice

Once the ritual is created, it’s important to embed it into some cadence that reminds us to

complete it. Consider the patterns and rhythms of daily life. Are there certain natural

occurrences that are consistent enough to support repetition?

Some suggestions include:

Passage of time – the start and end of every day, week, month, or year

Activities of daily life – meals, commuting, meetings, periods of rest.

Seasonal transitions – the start or end of winter, spring, summer, or autumn.

Important regular holydays – national, historical, religious, indigenous.

Anticipated transitions that most people experience – Starting, changing, or ending:

jobs, relationships, or periods or growth and development.

Conclusion

Rituals can add a spark of joy to our lives, connect us to others, and acknowledge important

milestones that might otherwise fail to be honored. Consider how you might create a new

ritual that promotes meaning and connection for yourself and others.

References

Casper Ter Kuile. 2020. The Power of Ritual:

Turning Everyday Activities into Soulful Practices. New York: Harper Collins Publishers.

Kursat Ozenc and Margaret Hagan. 2019.

Rituals for Work. Hoboken: John Wiley & Sons Hans H. Penner. 2016. Rituals. Encyclopedia Britannica. Accessed August 25, 2022.

About Jessica Grossmeier

Jessica Grossmeier, PHD, MPH is an advisor, speaker, and the author of Remaining

Workplace Well-being: Fostering a Culture of Purpose, Connection, and Transcendence. I hope these post will be useful for the members or anyone who are struggling with how to keep life happy during hard times.