The Importance of Rituals for Success

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I was recently thinking back on my training as a martial artist. When I started as a white belt there were about 20 other students in my dojo's beginner class. Of the 20 students, only 4 of us from that original group made it to black belt. 

It wasn't that we were more talented than the others. Nor were we afforded more opportunity. We weren't necessarily the most athletic, physically fit or more youthful either. The ages of my black belt awards ceremony ranged from early 20s to age 50!

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But, we did have something that the others from our original class lacked... Perseverance and ritual. 

I think we all know what perseverance is. It's that gritty, never-give-up attitude. It's a commitment to stick it out no matter what challenges came your way. However, I believe that perseverance is enhanced by ritual. A ritual is a method of following a specific process on a regular basis. This process, if done frequently becomes a habit. A habit becomes a consistent way of life. This ritualistic process creates a mental connection that leads to success. 

Let me give you an example. Watch a professional basketball player when he goes up to the free-throw line during a game. The really good free throw shooters have a ritual they follow. They position their feet a certain way. They dribble the ball a certain number of times. They breathe a specific way. Then they position the ball in their hands just so and release the ball towards the basket the same way every time.  All of this comes from consistent practice. If they follow their ritual, 90% of the time they will experience a successful shot. 

Karate is also built around ritual. We attend class at the same times each week. We wear our uniform (Gi) a certain way. We bow in a specific way as we enter and exit the dojo. We perform exercises the same way. We line up and perform kata in a particular way.  We have our routines and processes. All of this is a ritual for success. 

Think of a big boulder near a stream. The consistent flow of water over the boulder smoothes the rough edges and makes the boulder round. Over more time, the water can even cut through the boulder creating a smooth passage. It is the same in karate, the more often we do these rituals the more we develop in our training. Over time, just like the boulder we become smooth. 

It is the same with anything in life that you wish to succeed in. In developing positive rituals we each can persevere and pave the way to our success.

Here are some ideas on rituals you can incorporate into your life.

• Write down a specific process or system that you will use each time.
• Set a daily or weekly time frame that you will stick to. Mark it off. Nothing can take its place. If you absolutely must miss, then reschedule it for as soon as possible the next day. 
• Have a motivating quote or song that you recite before you begin working or practicing
• Try wearing a specific piece of clothing, jewelry or headband when you are practicing or working
• Breathe in a certain way before and after your session
• Have positive affirmations that you use at the end of the session
• Reward yourself for your progress. Perhaps every eighth completed session in a row you do something special to treat yourself. 
• Take time to write down in a journal or on your daily calendar how you felt each day when you successfully  completed your session. 

Rituals are powerful. They reinforce success in whatever goals you are working towards. Commit to making rituals part of your daily life and you will find you can accomplish more than you ever imagined!

Remember: the only ones who don't succeed are those that quit. It's persistence and ritual that wins the battle every time.