Many of the great minds in our history have been devotees of ritual. For instance, Charles Dickens liked to take a long walk every afternoon, and Ben Franklin asked himself a ritual question each morning after waking. Sports players, too, have long relied on the power of ritual. Rafael Nadal, the great tennis player, has said that ritual “is a way of … ordering my surroundings to match the order I seek in my head.” 

Scientific evidence has shown that following specific rituals can have a powerful effect on our mindset and our emotional equilibrium. Because ritual provides us with a sense of regularity and predictability, it helps us calm our brains and it reduces anxiety when we are confronted with uncertainty. Rituals help us focus mentally and increase our emotional resilience when we experience setbacks. 

For leaders, ritual is an important tool that can help us act more mindfully and make more effective decisions. 

In this element, we’ll explore the different rituals you can employ to boost your energy, enhance your creativity, and balance your emotional health. For instance, we’ll talk about how early-morning rituals can set you up for success in the rest of your day, and how end-of-day rituals can ease mental and emotional stress. 

Since you are a unique individual, the rituals we create in this element will also be unique—carefully designed to best support your particular personality and lifestyle.