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me to create a meditative space where I dreamed and
reconnected with myself.
When my son was born, the world felt like it paused,
creating a blank slate for my life. My mind was occupied
with baby information, late night Google sessions and
mom chats as I tried to navigate this new identity. While
I enjoyed nurturing my baby, I found myself missing
some parts of me.
Returning to Ritual
Slowly, I began longing for the rituals I had loved before.
Every week, I began to incorporate a ritual that I have
missed, playing around with when I did it and how. Now,
I make a quick matcha in the morning only a few times
a week. Sometimes I buy it when I’m out. But even that
small act allows me a few minutes of stillness before the
baby calls out for me.
I used to push self-care to the bottom of my to-do list,
always promising to rest after the day was done. Now
that time is scarce, I find
pleasure in finding new
ways of incorporating the
things I’ve loved even if it
does not look the same.
I attend a yoga class on a
Saturday morning as I have
always done, or sneak a face
mask in while the baby naps rather than at the end of
the day.
Rituals as Everyday Anchors
These practices have become my anchors. Even as
everything around me continues to shift, they ground
me. They’re not just routines, they’re intentional rituals
that I’ve built years prior to having a baby.
A ritual is created through intentional repetition. A ritual
over time turns into an anchor that is dependable. One
that carries you through any transformations.
Anchors as Foundational Pillars
By incorporating these anchors, I’m able to build a
foundation that I know will be stable. And a stable
foundation brings me confidence to build new pillars
and new anchors. Although I will never be able to bring
my life back, motherhood allowed me to tap into new
rituals and joys. My creativity blossomed and I found a
new sense of peace, like my new passion for creating
flower arrangements.
If you find yourself in the middle of a big life shift -
whether you’ve become a parent, ended a relationship,
or simply outgrown who you were - don’t wait for life to
return to how it was. See this as an opportunity to build
on the foundation that you have previously created and
build on it in a way that will reflect this new shift. You
can look at what used to ground you, and bring pieces
of it forward into your new life.
Create a Retreat at Home
In many ways, places like retreats create a safe container
to nurture new rituals without outside influence to
bring back home with you. And although it may not
always be possible to attend a retreat, there are ways
you’re able to create the rituals at home. It’s the small,
grounding practices that keep you evolving. Be it
cooking, journaling, painting, or running.
Rediscover Your Rhythm
If you’re wondering where to begin, start small. Rituals
don’t need to be elaborate
to be meaningful. The most
powerful ones often arise
from what’s already in front
of you.
Revisit what grounded
you. Reading before bed,
cooking a favorite dish,
journaling, or walking barefoot in the grass - what small
habits helped you feel most like yourself?
Bring your retreat home. Did something from a
past retreat inspire you - like breathwork, morning
movement, or tea meditation? Try weaving it into daily
life in a simple way.
Engage your senses. Light a candle, sip tea, turn on a
song that makes you feel. Sensory rituals help anchor
you into presence.
Now that you found some old and new practices that
you enjoy, try the following:
Anchor it to something you already do. Instead
of carving out new time, attach your ritual to another
routine. For example, after brushing your teeth, or
during your morning coffee. Repetition will help it
become second nature.
Be Intentional. Take that extra breath, hold the mug a
little tighter – truly feel yourself experiencing the ritual.
“If you’re wondering where to
begin...”