I always thought routines and rituals meant the same thing, but they aren’t.

Routines are those things you do without thinking about them. They are efficient and productive in their own way. Like shutting off the alarm clock, brushing your teeth, taking medicine, etc. You just do them.

Then there are rituals.

Those things you do with intention. They are meaningful. You don’t take them for granted.

Before I started a morning ritual, my mornings were routine and rushed. I rolled out of bed at 6:15 and ran around the house in a whirlwind to shower, eat breakfast, get ready, make a quick lunch, and head out the door by 7:15.

My turning point.

Something changed in me when I started a guided meditation practice. That was eight years ago. It wasn’t a consistent practice at first, but when it became one other pieces started falling into place.

I started reading a devotional, and then I added journaling to the ritual. Each piece felt like a natural progression. I added drinking a second glass of water while I read and wrote.

A gentle stretching or yoga routine felt like a natural next step, and so I added it to the mix. Nothing too intense, maybe 10 minutes.

And sometime in there, my dad and I started texting each other every morning throughout the week. While the topics have become routine, the texts themselves are meaningful every day. I don’t take our exchange for granted.

I definitely no longer get up in a rush at 6:15 each morning. Once these rituals became a part of who I wanted to be and how I wanted to show up in the world, I started going to bed earlier so that I could get up at 5:00.

Was it easy to start with? No. In fact, it’s still not easy. I’m not a morning person, but it’s completely worth it. The time I give myself to begin the day connects me to my inner self so that I can give to the rest of my world in a purposeful way.

Your starting point.

Your morning ritual starts with you. When you think about it, what is something that would excite you enough to get out of bed even 15 minutes earlier to honor yourself?

Here are some ideas:

• Go for a walk in nature or on a treadmill. Get the body moving.
• Work on a piece of writing or the next great American novel.
• Make yourself a gourmet breakfast.
• Light a candle and make a list of what you’re grateful for.
• Guided meditation.
• Bible study.
• Journal.
• Text with someone you want to connect with on a regular basis.
• Have coffee and conversation with your partner each morning.

And don’t feel like you have to jump in all at once. Pick one and stick with it for a while or make your own list and pick from it. If it doesn’t feel purposeful to you after a week or two, pick something else. Add as you want or what fits into your life.

Until next time…

Be well, friends.