The Emotion Machine

Routines vs. Rituals: The Difference Between Dull-Living And Empowerment

The essential difference between rituals and routines is not necessarily what can be observed by an outsider but how each is perceived inside our heads.

To some individuals, getting up every morning, brushing your teeth, taking a shower, getting dressed, and driving to work is a routine. It is something that needs to be done, so we do it solely for the sake of getting the task completed. Sometimes we even do these things in fear of what will happen if we don’t.

But those who live more consciously can turn even a simple practice like this into a powerful and purposeful ritual.

Surely, these same people will still get up every morning, they will brush their teeth, take a shower, get dressed, and drive to work; however, it is not the behavior that will distinguish between a ritual and routine, it is how we view our actions. Those who live their lives as a ritual don’t do things out of obligation or fear, but out of love for the action in-itself.

The absence of love and engagement

One thing that distinguishes routines and rituals is that routines often have a very little sense of love and engagement. Routines are acted out because we feel “they need to be done,” rather than because they fulfill an inner desire to do them.

On the other hand, rituals are actions to be fully engaged in. When we brush our teeth, it isn’t just a chore to avoid cavities and gingivitis, it is an expression of love for our bodies and health. And for this reason, the actions define themselves. It is “in-its-doing” where we find contentment.

In rituals things are done because we love to do them. There are little thoughts or concerns about, “Well, what if I don’t do this?”

What do you mean what if I don’t do this? That is like asking a young child if he eats candy and plays video games because he wants to fit in with the other kids. He does those things because he absolutely loves the pleasure that comes from doing them. I suggest that we instill this sense of love and pleasure in everything that we do.

Symbols and meaning

I often emphasize the importance of meaning. All rituals are heavily marinated in symbols, story-telling, analogies, and deep levels of meaning. Symbols are powerful; they direct our attention to an idea, allow us to build energy around it, and inject that energy into our lives through our actions. It is alchemy – psychological power transformed into physical manifestation.

But it requires that we live with purpose.

Our actions need to define themselves. They need to be seen as something greater than a simple fulfillment of a duty, but instead an expression of life as a whole.

When you see the God in everything, there is no longer a need to go to church, pray, or even meditate. Your whole life is one big ritual in itself.

Rituals are celebrations

If you are anything like me then you have probably always thought of church as something mundane and boring. Unfortunately, many churches are. If there is a God, I doubt he would want us to be so dull and lifeless while speaking to him.

Rituals are celebrations. They should spark the zest out of life like a good college party. They should grab your attention and emerge you into a saturated state of flow.

Any pattern of behavior can be a ritual

Any pattern of behavior can be a ritual if we perceive it as one. Every time I shower, eat, or brush my teeth I try to see the holiness in the experience and I remain incredibly mindful of what it is I am doing. It may sound funny, but I actually think by doing this I am improving my health (both physically and mentally).

I try to integrate this practice into everything I do, but some things are harder than others. For example, I often get distracted when I am reading or writing (especially when I have easy access to the internet). I would like to seek out each blog post of mine as a ritual – I even think it would increase the quality of my posts. This whole process of “ritualizing” is a constant work in progress.

A quick summary

I think by now you understand where I draw the line between a ritual versus a routine. As a quick summary, here is a small list of the key things that I find which distinguish between these two “modes of doing.”

Please take the time today to consider what areas of your life are ritualistic and which are only a routine. Which areas do you need the most improvement? What can you try to do to achieve this?

Writing As Meditation

Writing is a way of organizing our thoughts and making better sense of our world. I would even consider it a form of contemplative meditation. When writing, we connect different concepts together in our heads, mull over different ideas, and often aim at trying to paint a picture or tell some kind of story. Even in writing something as simple as a postcard we are ruminating in our mind what we want the message of the card to be.

“Meditation is the tongue of the soul and the language of our spirit.”
- Jeremy Taylor

Whenever we write we are embracing these ideas, allowing them to be expressed, and letting their energy flow through us onto the paper.

Throughout this creative process we too are changing. We are not only becoming more aware of our inner world of meaning, but at the same time we are given a medium to release these built up thoughts, ideas, stresses and desires. We are practicing a form of alchemy – by channeling our energies from something psychological to something material and tangible.

It’s a healing process

Like all forms of art therapy, writing can be healing; that is why I encourage everyone to pursue some kind of creative endeavor. It allows us to step back and put the world into perspective. It also gives us a sense of power and purpose, so we don’t feel completely swallowed up by our daily anxieties, stresses, and fears.

When we create we have something to be proud of, something to show for our efforts, and something that is distinctly unique and ours. This builds up our self-worth and inspires us to be more productive. Pursing any art has shown to do some incredible things for mental health, and it plays a big role in what Positive Psychologist Martin Seligman calls The Meaningful Life, which he considers a central component to happiness.

Carl Jung saw the manifestations of our dreams as ways in which our psyche maintains homeostasis and balance. I believe art and writing can have the same effect. This one video supports this point by showing how art therapy can be used effectively in treating those with schizophrenia.

Do a little everyday

Whether your thing is writing, painting, dancing, or playing guitar, try to do a little bit of it everyday. Think of it as your daily meditation or prayer. It is your way of provoking reality and creating a world of meaning and purpose.

Many people find it therapeutic to keep a journal or diary. Personally, I have been maintaining this blog since June of last year and I already feel ten times better mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. I like to write music too, but writing is something that resonates with me at a level I can manage the best. It clears up my thoughts in ways that I find hard accomplishing with other arts. But, everyone may be a little different.

It is easy to become engaged in

For many, pursuing an art or writing is a lot more fun and exciting than meditation. While meditation is about stillness and silence, art gives us a way to find tranquility through active expression. When you finish a piece of writing or art there is a wave of relaxation and comfort, not to mention a distinct sense of pride and accomplishment.

So for those who find it difficult to spend time on the cushion, why not turn to writing and art as a secondary form of meditation? It could even still be considered a spiritual practice. After all, who says we need religion and false dogmas? Maybe the true evolution of man is when we recognize that we can harness the same creative power of nature that we so often attribute to God. In a sense, our capacity for creativity and innovation may even make us out to be our own gods and goddesses. In this recognition, we are aware of our own divinity.

When we find something we love doing, it becomes much easier to be engaged in. And engagement is an important aspect to any meditative or spiritual practice.

A stronger sense of self

When we walk away from a piece of writing we have a stronger sense of ourselves. We are a part of the transformation and by the end of the process we have been re-born into something new.

And – isn’t this often the crux of any meditation practice? To increase self-awareness and to watch ourselves grow and change with time? Shouldn’t we all practice this to some degree, even if it is only to facilitate our own personal development and well-being? Just a few minutes a day of reflection and writing can aid one’s life in so many different ways.

The mental state of writing

When we are physically in the state of writing it is just like a state of deep contemplation. We become absorbed in the process of our ideas, thoughts, feelings and emotions. We then attempt to integrate them all in a way that reveals a clear message.

When I am in a state of writing that cannot be disturbed it is like I am in a trance. All my focus is concentrated on the task at hand and on accomplishing what it is I am setting out to do. All of my being is dedicated into channeling my energy outwards into my creation.

Broadcasting Your Voice: What’s Your Signal-To-World Ratio?

Self-empowering individuals know how to attract others and get them to listen. They are able to put a megaphone to their inner voice and broadcast their ideas loud and clear to whomever is worth the time of day.

On the other end of the spectrum there are those who seldom let their thoughts be known. Perhaps due to some fear of being ridiculed or rejected, these individuals would rather live in their heads than provoke the reality outside of themselves.

We all lay on this spectrum to different degree, some of us leaning more one way than another; I like to call this our “Signal-To-World” ratio.

Voice of change

Through our words we all have the capacity to change something about the world, to shed awareness on things that others have ignored, and motivate like-minded individuals toward a greater course of action.

We don’t necessarily need a soapbox and a megaphone, we speak our thoughts throughout everyday conversation: around family, friends, coworkers, and casual acquaintances.

Unless we live deep in some long-lost cave in Tibet, or we are dead, it is hard not to make some sort of impact onto our world. With this being known, we all have some bit of a signal-to-world ratio, even if we willfully deny our interconnectedness and responsibility towards others.

Boosting your signal

First we must recognize ourselves as the agents of change that we really are, and then we need to ask, “In what ways can I make this voice be heard more clearly?”

I was always a fairly introverted child; you could say my signal-to-world ratio was very low. I first turned to poetry and music to help express and share myself with others, and now my biggest pride is this very blog you are reading. Any creative endeavor can be used to inspire and spark the interests of others.

However, it takes dedication to ensure that your signal is reaching others effectively. You must be aware of your intentions and when your message is being misinterpreted. Sometimes we can be speaking at the top of our lungs, but if it just blends into all the other noise of the world then our signal won’t be heard.

Action and activism

Making our voices heard requires commitment and action. This means getting up off our butts, stirring the waters of reality, and trying to make something happen!

It means we have a vision, a way we picture how the world should be, and a path to get there. Whether it is organizing a protest in front of the Whitehouse or even going to a job interview – our signal to the world must be as clear and understandable as possible.

So what do you have to say? When you look at the world where do you see changes to be made? Find the time and work towards getting something accomplished.

Tune in to others

Sometimes making our voice be known means speaking in unison with the voices of others.

There is no need to overpower all the other signals of the world for ours to be heard. All we simply need to do is find a place where our voice resonates. There may already be some organizations that support your beliefs. Why not work with them? This all goes back to the old adage, “Two heads are better than one.”

Example: “Everything is OK.”

Recently I came across a very interesting video of a few protesters in England.

Although I typically have disdain for those who walk around public streets aiming to provoke and intimidate others, these protesters have something unique going for them. They use satire and asinine statements in an entertaining and meaningful way – and it actually gets people to listen to what they are saying!

The message of their protest is clear and simple, and that is what gets their signal heard. While these individuals speak out about how “Everything is OK and safe,” the real message is that blind obedience is stupid, and it turns us all into nothing but zombies, with our 9-5 jobs and our lack of any zest for life.

Check it out:

In many ways this video summarizes the same sentiments I am conveying in this post.

What’s your signal-to-world ratio?

What it all boils down to by the end of the day is how much are you really being heard? Are you the agent of change that you want to be? Is your signal coming out loud and strong, or is it just a buzz in the background of this busy world? I don’t expect you to be the next Gandhi or Martin Luther King Jr., but I do want to see more people following their hearts and becoming the change they wish to see in the world.

So do me a favor and let your voice be heard. What type of things do you do on a daily basis to make your opinion be known?

How To Combat Work Overload

The unemployment rate is showing little signs of improvement. Businesses are still cutting down their staff hoping to maximize profits with as few workers as possible; for those of us who are lucky to have a job, now is not a good time to slack or we could be next on the cutting board.

Yikes! Not only does it hurt to have to do so much tedious work, but this stress then carries over into other aspects of our life. Thankfully there some strategies we can take to combat with a busy work schedule and still maintain sanity.

A. Re-think what counts

Sometimes work overload is really just a figment of our imagination. In actuality we may not have that much to do after a bit of re-scheduling, holding off, or cutting down on our to-do list. Find some things you can put off until next week. Also see if you can identify any tasks that you can just forget about completely. Often, “busy-ness” is something we only subject ourselves too when we don’t take the proper time to re-think what really counts. Learn to treasure a bit of minimalism, it’ll help you preserve energy for the more important stuff.

B. Take a siesta or two

As I mention in my one article, “Start The New Decade By Focusing On Relaxation,” Bradley Whitwell, a scientist at the Brain and Mind Research Institute, says that allowing employees to have mid-workday naps can help them become more alert in the workplace. I honestly believe that learning to fully enjoy moments of rest and reflection would help our industrialized society way more than most people are willing to admit. There is never anything wrong with stepping back and taking a few deep breaths. Practicing stillness and reflection has shown to increase learning, memory, and other cognitive abilities. The more employers apply these revolutionary findings to the workplace the quicker we can move to what I hope to be a more enlightened age for modern capitalism.

C. Dedicate 10-15 minutes toward fitness

OK, we get it – you are “just too busy” to go to the gym. But fitness can be achieved anywhere as long as you have the creativity and dedication to integrate it into your routine. Try taking short breaks and do some push-ups and sit-ups in your office. By doing this you are taking your mind off of your latest assignment and rejuvenating your mental health. Taking an active approach to personal fitness is a great way to channel your stresses and at the same time boost your stamina throughout the day. CEOs take note: one article here illustrates how fitness in the workplace helps increase productivity by boosting employee self-confidence and company morale.

“Those who think they have no time for bodily exercise will sooner or later have to find time for illness.”
- Edward Stanley

D. Remember the importance of leisure

Leisure is anytime you are actively engaged in something of pleasure. Without the highs we would certainly have greater difficulty bearing the lows; leisure it is what makes life live-able. So, if you don’t already, find yourself some hobbies that really spark your interest and curiosity – something that energizes you and reminds you that there is a good life. And no matter how down or stressed out you may become there are always these one or two things available to lighten your mood.

E. Highlight what you like about your job

Most of us never achieved our childhood dream jobs. That is part of why the jobs we have can be so stressful and overbearing. But there is a mental thing you can do to learn to love your job more. First, make note of the aspects of your job that you do enjoy. That change in focus can help facilitate your workday, and the more you can learn to love, the easier time you will have.

I am not asking you to be delusional and all-smiles as you walk through the office, but to make the best out of what is, and learn the importance of a positive attitude. Rather than going into your day thinking, “Oh no, not another Monday,” instead think, “This will be a fun and productive day.”

What you are creating is a self-fulfilling prophecy – where your expectations affect your behaviors, and in return those behaviors elicit outcomes where your expectations actually come true. This phenomena has shown support in psychology ever since Robert Rosenthal and Lenore Jacobson published a study in 1968. It showed that when teachers have high expectations for students (even when based on false information) it leads to those students actually performing better on their IQ tests. Never underestimate the importance of your attitude and beliefs.

F. As a last resort: say “fuck it all” and take a day off

I would be lying to you if I didn’t include the age old “fuck it all” strategy. Of course it is a last resort, but sometimes it is necessary. I’ve done it myself during busy times of the year where I just need that extra day off to gather up my strength. Work is important, but it is not worth selling your soul for. The times where you feel most exhausted and overtaxed are the best times to stay at home and re-build yourself. But, I don’t recommend skipping out on days where you have an important business meeting or days when a big project is due – you have to use your own best judgment. Don’t do something that will get you fired.