From Habit to Ritual
The best kind of practice connects us to our highest self, embracing a true and loving acceptance of our entirety, and recognizing how divine and interconnected we truly are.
My relationship with my own practice continues to evolve beautifully. It simultaneously roots me deeper and expands my being through all the ebbs and flows, allowing me to hold more not only for myself but also for others.
I’ve learned that, like any intimate relationship, it’s important for our practice to be built on a solid foundation. With this foundation, it becomes easier to deepen and maintain connection. Without it, our practice can easily become a box to check off, doing it just to say we did it, before moving on to the next wellness trend promising fulfillment.
That’s why it’s important to consider how you’re showing up for it.
As the saying goes, “how you do one thing is how you do everything”.
Shifting your practice from habit (what you do) to ritual (how you do it) is like the progression from lust to love.
So how do we make that shift?
Here are the reframes that made a world of difference for me:
Commitment → Devotion — Think of devotion as elevated commitment. When you are devoted, your commitment stems from deep love and respect. It’s the shift from “I have to” to “I get to”. Reframing your personal practice as devotion to yourself infuses it with reverence and sacredness.
Am I truly devoted to this, or am I just going through the motions?
Perfection → Compassionate Consistency — The more consistent you are, the stronger your connection remains. It’s about choosing yourself repeatedly. Sometimes you’ll falter, and that’s okay (because this isn’t about perfection!). A compassionate practice always invites us to remember and come back when we've wandered away, without judgment or shame. Simply put, you can’t hate yourself into loving yourself.
Am I consistently showing up for myself and am I doing so compassionately?
What comes from your practice, like anything else in life, reflects the energy you invest in it.
