"A few years ago, during a particularly chaotic period at work, I started making my morning coffee the exact same way every day: same mug, same timing, same two minutes of silence while it brewed. It wasn't intentional; I was just too overwhelmed to think about it. But something interesting happened: Those two minutes became the calmest part of my day. Even when everything else felt out of control, I had this one predictable moment that somehow made the rest manageable."
"Waiting for everyone to be served before eating, giving presents for birthdays and holidays, saying "hello" and exchanging scripted pleasantries, clapping at the end of a performance - all of these are rituals woven throughout our days. Since the dawn of time, humans have used rituals to acknowledge one another, signal belonging, mark beginnings and endings, and more. In fact, I believe rituals are some of the most powerful technologies invented by humankind."
"When people face stress, danger, or major life changes, rituals provide a sense of stability through structured actions. Having something concrete to do when everything appears uncertain reduces anxiety and feelings of helplessness. This sense of agency extends to rituals' broader social function: Shared routines make cooperation easier in times of stress. When a team huddles before a game, the action signals membership and commitment"
A simple, repeated morning coffee routine provided a predictable, calming two-minute pause during a chaotic work period. Rituals appear throughout daily life: waiting to be served, birthday gift exchanges, greetings, and applause. Rituals function as repetitive, patterned, culturally transmitted behavioral "software" that serves psychological roles beyond habit or tradition. Rituals provide stability through structured actions during stress, danger, or life changes, reducing anxiety and helplessness. Rituals also foster agency and aid social coordination; shared routines signal membership, commitment, and make cooperation easier in stressful situations, as seen in pre-game team huddles.
Read at Big Think
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