Practice Vs. Ritual

Practice Vs. Ritual

This week marked the kickoff of my annual 100 Days of Creative High Growth program, and I’m feeling inspired by the energy my students are bringing to this transformative journey. One of the cornerstones of the program is teaching a practice that evolves into a ritual—a process that goes beyond action and reaches into the realm of meaning, connection, and spirit.

As I reflect on this theme, I realize that friends often tell me I live a life of rituals. It’s not something I consciously set out to do, but when I look closer, I see they’re right. Perhaps it’s because I strive to live a life of deep meaning and connection to my spirit. For me, rituals are a way to bring intention into the ordinary and create moments that anchor me in presence and purpose.

The Difference Between Practice and Ritual

At its core, a practice is something we do regularly—an action repeated with the aim of developing a skill or reaching a goal. Practices are powerful; they build discipline, create momentum, and help us stay consistent. Think of daily journaling, meditation, or even a morning walk. These are all practices that serve as stepping stones toward something greater.

But a practice can often feel mechanical or obligatory—something to check off the list.

That’s where the magic of ritual comes in.

A ritual elevates a practice by infusing it with intention, symbolism, and meaning. It transforms an action into something sacred, a moment where we pause and connect with something deeper. For example, a journaling practice might mean sitting down to write every morning to organize your thoughts. As a ritual, it might start with lighting a candle, taking a few deep breaths, and setting an intention before you even pick up the pen. The shift is subtle yet profound.

My Life of Rituals

In my own life, rituals are everywhere. They are the way I light a candle before writing, the moment I pause to express gratitude before a meal, or the deliberate slowness with which I prepare my morning tea. These are not just habits; they are ways of reminding myself to connect with my spirit and honor the present moment.

Living a life of rituals isn’t about adding more to your plate or creating complicated routines. It’s about noticing the opportunities for connection that already exist and giving them your attention. Rituals are how I turn the ordinary into the extraordinary, how I ground myself in the flow of life while staying connected to my creativity and purpose.

Transforming Practice Into Ritual

Imagine you’re taking a morning walk as part of a daily practice. It’s good for your body and mind, and it helps you stay consistent with your health goals. Now, consider how that walk might feel if you turned it into a ritual. Before stepping outside, you could set an intention—something you want to release or call in during the walk. As you move, you might pay closer attention to the sound of the wind, the rhythm of your breath, or the colors in the sky. Suddenly, it’s no longer just exercise. It’s an act of communion with yourself and the world around you.

Why Rituals Matter

Rituals are powerful because they bring us back to ourselves. They help us slow down and connect with what’s truly important. In a world that often feels rushed and disconnected, rituals remind us that meaning isn’t something we have to seek—it’s something we create. They invite us to approach even the smallest actions with care, curiosity, and reverence.

For my students, this shift is transformative. The practices they begin with—journaling, meditating, or creating—become rituals that anchor them in their growth and purpose. They stop being tasks to complete and start becoming expressions of who they are.

Your Turn: Bringing Ritual Into Your Life

This week, I invite you to look at your own practices. What’s one thing you do regularly that could be infused with a little more meaning, a little more heart? Is it your morning coffee, your evening skincare routine, or the way you journal? How can you slow down, create space, and turn it into a ritual?

Start small. Light a candle, say a mantra, or simply pause to breathe and set an intention. Notice how it changes the way you feel—not just in the moment, but throughout your day.

In the end, a ritual isn’t about what you do—it’s about how you do it. It’s about being present, finding joy in the process, and connecting with something greater. 

Here’s to practices that become rituals, and to lives that become works of art.