Self-Care A-Z: Finding Meaning in Rituals—Shifts, Stirrings, Stillness, and Signs
by Jodie Tingle-Willis, LCSW, E-RYT 500
Several weeks ago, I realized I was in the habit of going through the motions and pushing through each day, which leads to a not-super-joyful Jodie. It’s a slippery slope, and sometimes it happens, especially when I let busyness and the “need” to hustle take over my thinking. Then, I read a friend’s Facebook post. You know, one of those “50 things you should know about me” posts? One of the questions was, “What do you fear most?” The word that immediately popped into my mind and hit me in the gut the hardest was “meaninglessness.”
Tiny Shifts
So, with a little help from others and some personal reflection, I decided it was time to give more attention to my daily rituals and meaning-making. Nothing major. Something simple and sustainable. Something that could take only a few minutes.
In the last few weeks, these tiny shifts have made the biggest difference in my days. I have a stronger feeling of lightness, and I am more resilient when faced with stressors. And, most importantly, I realize the importance of small things. Not in the “everything has to be perfect” or “don’t sweat the small stuff” kind of way. It’s more in the, “isn’t that bird’s song beautiful,” or “that candle flame is mesmerizing” kind of way.
Subtle Stirrings
One of the beautiful, meaningful rituals I have is lighting a few candles, making my favorite cup of tea, and enjoying a few minutes of stillness in the morning. To infuse a little extra meaning, as I light the candles, I remind myself of my path. I call in prayers and well wishes for my loved ones and for the world. As I stir my tea, I invite in my intentions for the day ahead.
Today, as I stirred my tea, I was visited by a heron on my spoon. I’ve had this spoon for years, y’all! But I had never REALLY SEEN the heron. Herons hold special meaning for me. They are a wink from my Dad, whose sacred place was the ocean. His favorite pastime was holding onto all our floats while we were in the waters. We called him “Our Anchor.” On the way home from his funeral nearly eight years ago, a heron flew alongside the car. Since then, the presence of herons is a nod from Dad, saying, “I’m here.”
Now, through being still for just a few moments, I am able to breathe in that message.
Stillness and Signs
I hear people say all the time, “I just wish I had a sign.” Well, like the heron on my spoon, what if the signs are all around us? What if they are, simply, waiting for us to notice, but we’re all too busy running around like chickens with our heads cut off? What if we’re being called to slow down? Be still? Listen?
Simple self-care rituals can serve many purposes. Mine are primarily prompted by my desire for enhancing my sense of meaning. Other rituals might serve to promote healthier habits or deeper awareness. For instance, a friend has a practical ritual of making the bed every morning, as a way of starting the day with a sense of accomplishment and order. Another colleague has a boundary-marking ritual of visualizing that she leaves her workload at a certain geographic marker on her commute home. Others have various rituals for practicing gratitude daily, such as writing in a gratitude journal. These daily rituals are simple ways of promoting self-care that can have exponential effects over time.
Do you have a simple daily ritual? If so, I’d love to hear about it. Please, share it in the comments section.
If not, would you like to start one? Take a moment to be still and consider what you need to include, enhance, or deepen in your life. Maybe this post will stir up a new self-care ritual for you. Perhaps it’s a sign?
Jodie Tingle-Willis, LCSW (she/her), owner of Supreme Peace Yoga & Wellness, offers soulful opportunities that inspire, create connection, and promote growth. She compassionately challenges the paradigm that we need to journey outside ourselves for peace and transformation. She guides us to trust that—like Dorothy in Oz—our power to return to center has been in us all along. Through embodied movement, ritual, and community, we reclaim those wise and powerful parts within us. Jodie holds credentials as an LCSW, 500 E-RYT (Experienced-Registered Yoga Teacher), and Reiki Master. She can be reached at info@supremepeaceyoga.com or at supremepeaceyoga.com.