From inspiration to implementation
Have you ever been inspired by something you read or heard, felt motivated to implement it yet nothing happened?
There can be several reasons for this but a key reason is the lack of buy-in on our part. We are inspired, realise the advantages of implementation and more, yet we remain in status quo.
We fail in convincing ourselves of our conviction. So, how do we convince ourselves?
Rituals
A ritual is a series of actions performed in a prescribed order. In the traditional definition, rituals have a religious bias. Here, a ritual is an idiosyncratic practice performed repeatedly on a regular basis imbued with symbolism and meaning. It is used to create or restore structure and control to achieve the outcomes we desire.
Rituals are different to routines. Routines are mindless but rituals are done with intent and awareness. Rituals become powerful when we want to make meaningful change, creating a new belief, a new habit, change our patterns, etc. There is a recognition that something special is happening.
Research shows that simple rituals can be effective. A series of investigations by psychologists have shown that rituals can have a causal impact on people’s thoughts, feelings, and behaviour. Studies show that performing a ritual with the intention of deriving a certain outcome is sufficient for that outcome to come true.
My writing experiences
I had a limiting belief about writing. It felt like a black cloud over my head whenever I thought of producing content. I knew I had information to share but held myself back. I was happier to procrastinate than attempt writing.
What started as an experiment to convince myself over 10 years ago resulted in many leadership and management articles which were featured in various publications. But it was sheer grit that helped me write my articles. I was happy with my result, but I was not enjoying the process. The whole experience felt laboured.
Something was missing and I knew I had to address it.
My writing ritual
In his autobiography, Bryan Cranston writes of how he went from an average actor to an extraordinary actor by focusing on the process and not the outcome. When he went for auditions, he changed his focus from getting the job to giving something. He was there not for the job but to do a job. This shift took the pressure off getting the job, allowing him to give his best performance at each audition. Soon after he was offered a role in the long-running comedy, Malcom In the Middle.
That was my missing link. I was focused on the outcome that the process felt so laboured. I needed to change the way I approached writing. It was still to deliver good fact-filled articles but from writing centred approach rather than an outcome centred approach.
So, I created my writing ritual. A sacred moment, daily, where I focus on writing my thoughts. I do not do this with the intent to write an article but to capture my thoughts. This has led to a collection of useful thoughts that contribute to the articles that I write.
My writing ritual has made a difference. In the past, I was writing to meet a publication deadline. Now, my writing is more intentional, giving what was a mundane task (for me) more meaning with greater control over producing and delivering my content.
As a result, writing is more natural for me now. I still fight myself at times, but the process has become easier. Just as we build and grow muscles when we exercise. My writing ritual has allowed my brain to adapt to writing, making it a new norm.
Beneficial by-products
I gained more than just creating content. I had several other beneficial outcomes:
The greatest benefit, a feeling of achievement, daily, which boosted my sense of self.
A structure to capture and convert my thoughts and ideas in an effective manner.
More ideas and thoughts emerging unlike before.
Awareness of words, how I choose them and how I construct sentences. A recent review of my old articles proved this.
My writing has evolved as have I. It is still work-in-progress with plenty of room for improvement. But a simple discipline of a daily ritual has turned a limiting belief into a source of inspiration. A discipline that has enhanced my self-awareness.
Your daily ritual
What I describe above is an evolutionary journey that will keep evolving with time. But it would have never happened without my ritual.
So, if you are being held back from whatever you want to do, create a ritual around it. It is a great way to initiate and cross your threshold to implement your goals, inspirations, ideas or thoughts. Rituals for Work by Margaret Hagan and Kursat Ozenc has practical examples and ideas on creating rituals.
If at the beginning it all feels very mundane, keep at it and do not give up. It may take a while until you get into your rhythm. And the by-products from this process could offer you other beneficial outcomes to navigate your future.
For guidance and support with your ritual, contact me at yoga@yoganesadurai.com