The difference between a routine and a ritual is not the action, but the attitude behind the action.
To some, a routine is getting up every morning, brushing your teeth, taking a shower, getting dressed, and going to work. It is not a meaningful part of our day, but it needs to get done so we do it. It’s a chore.
Rituals, on the other hand, are viewed as more meaningful practices. Often, there is symbolism involved, and a real sense of purpose. A big part of it is your subjective experience of the activity. I define the key differences as follows:
| Routines | Rituals |
|---|---|
| Minimal engagement. | Full engagement. |
| Tedious and meaningless. | Symbolic and meaningful |
| Externally motivated. | Internally motivated. |
| Life as a duty. | Life as a celebration. |
| Dull awareness. | Bright awareness. |
| Disconnected series of events. | Tells a story. |
| Little sense of belonging. | Sense of belonging. |
| Focus only on completion of tasks. | Focus on performance of tasks. |
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