Routines and Rituals

Routines and Rituals

Life is like a tapestry: Habits, moments and stitches.

The beauty of tapestry is in viewing the stitches as a whole and from afar. At closer examination one sees the individual stitches, some inevitably bland or sloppy, some vibrant and magnificent, some merely reparative or functional.

Just like the moments of life.

Any life, viewed whole, is a unique compilation of simple moments mended together forming a divine image of human imperfection and beauty as one. The wholeness that was created required the endurance of the endless painful openings inflicted by the prick of the needle. Indeed, the more numerous the wounds, the more stunning the final culmination.

Just like the stitches of a tapestry.

If it is true that moments are the stitches of life, each one representing a moment lived, and that the quality and content of each stitch mattered in the end, what would happen if you lived the moments of your life more intentionally as if you were making the stitches of the tapestry that is your life?

Relatable and consistent.

According to James Clear, a habit is a behaviour that solves a recurring problem. “Good” habits, like exercise and eating well, can result in being fit and healthy. “Bad” habits, like eating too much sugar or smoking, can result in being overweight and unhealthy.

“Results are a lagging measure of your habits.” James Clear

The ironic reality is the easier and more immediately satisfying the habit it, the more undesirable is the long term result. Think of choosing a sugary snack over going for a short walk – the sugary snack might be more satisfactory at first with its sweet taste and lack of effort needed, but over time, less sugar and more activity will lead to feeling happier and more energized.

Ugh! No wonder its so hard to be GOOD!

I’ve got some good news to share. James Clear has distilled it down to this: find ways to pull long-term gain into the moment so that the immediate habit becomes more obvious, more attractive, easier, and more satisfying. Check his work for a more in depth explanation.

Start small.

If you have a really big health goal, like healing your gut, or overcoming chronic illness, or balancing your hormones, daily habits are key. Tiny habits that get big results are drinking lemon water before meals, taking a moment to eat intentionally, chew your food thoroughly and stopping before you feel full.

Be consistent.

No matter how big your goal, pick one tiny habit, start right now, and commit to doing it daily. Results happen with small, sustained effort. Connect a new habit to an existing habit to help you remember and be more consistent. Since drinking lemon water, eating intentionally, chewing your food, and stopping before you feel full are all connected to meals you are already eating, create a written reminder to practice these habits with each meal.

Embody results.

If you want to be an athlete, you must train, if you want to be a writer, then you must write, if you want to be healthy then you must incorporate healthy food and lifestyle habits.



Holistic Nutritional Consultant Functional Nutrition Labs