Embracing Change: How Small Rituals Can Transform Your Life

Accepting change and the total shift that comes with it can be quite an experience, especially when it seems like there’s so much to figure out.

We’re creatures of comfort, and it’s hard to accept change.

Building habits or rituals is key to fostering and manifesting change in our lives. I know everyone’s tired of hearing about habits—there are countless books, from Atomic Habits to Tiny Habits, but it seems everyone’s preaching the same thing.

But the truth is, there is no quick fix.

For me, it all started with small daily rituals. Every morning, before work, I’d spend an hour reading, meditating, and journaling. These activities became the foundation of my transformation. At first, I didn’t need to see a therapist; the journaling itself helped me become more self-aware.

Awareness is the crucial first step toward change, but it doesn’t end there. The next step is to take action. If you don’t act, life will inevitably push you toward change, and you might be unprepared for it.

It wasn’t always a walk in the park when I started this journey. Some habits, like reading, came naturally since I craved knowledge, but others were a struggle. The key was making habits small and manageable with consistency. For instance, I began with five instead of meditating for 20 minutes.

Understanding the "why" behind a habit also helps. Once I understood the purpose of my habits, it became easier to integrate into my life.

We have little time for reflection due to the relentless distractions of modern life. Unlike when I was younger, we're now bombarded with information 24/7. That's why it's crucial to be intentional about building habits that help us block out distractions and refocus our minds. It won’t happen by accident.

Last year, when the conflict in the Middle East escalated, I found myself glued to X (formerly Twitter), refreshing the feed for updates. What started as a quick check turned into hours of mindless scrolling—I caught myself in the trap.

Our attention is constantly contested, and if we don't act, we risk losing control over its direction.

We’re at a tipping point, and I believe that, in time, we’ll all need some form of intervention to regain control over our minds. It’s not easy, but it’s also urgent.

Let’s start building these small habits as they become bridges to our higher selves.