Creating Meaningful Rituals for Achieving Goals

A new year seems like a logical time for making a fresh start. I
thought why not do a podcast about reinforcing a new year’s
resolution or goal with ritual? So, I turned to one of my
favorite yoga instructors to walk you and me through this
process.


I’d imagined she would suggest doing something spiritual like
lighting a candle and gazing at a crystal cluster in a meditative
state. Or, setting some meaningful mementos and fresh flowers in
an area of your home that could serve as a small alter, reminding
yourself of the person you wish to become.


But, I was wrong. She did suggest the meditation part – sitting
still doing deep belly breathing for five minutes a day.


“Meditation is a wonderful ritual every morning, to set space for
self respect, to set the tone of our attitude. To realize who we
want to be in that day and how we want to meet others,”
explained Suzanne Marlow, a Santa Barbara area marriage and
family therapist (LMFT) and Insight Yoga instructor at Yoga
Soup.


For those who have trouble sitting still she suggested a
meditation alternative she
calls Beditation, which can be done
first thing in the morning.


“Five minutes before you get out of bed, put your hands on your
belly. Feel the breath moving in and out. Relax into who you are,
and then kind of set your mind to who you want to be.”


She also offered some practical ideas for weaving mindful rituals
into daily life, such as expressing gratitude. “Every time you
walk through a door, can you slow down a bit, and just take a
breath and remember how fortunate you are to be in this moment…
even the moments that don’t seem so fortunate.”


Marlow calls cleaning the space inside of us mental
flossing. “As we develop into healthier human
beings…. we need to think more wholesomely… We need to be honest
about what is going on inside (ourselves).”


For more information on Suzanne Marlow’s yoga and counseling
services, including her new mindfulness group therapy program, go
to Suzanne Marlow.com.


And for more podcasts and blog posts on how you can go from
merely living to Truly Thriving, go to WellnessTalkShow.com