Embracing Change: Harnessing the Power of Rituals and Abstinence
Introduction: The Power of Daily Rituals
If you have been wanting to or trying to make a change in your life as it relates to a behavior you no longer want to engage in, you may find this post useful. Many of us receive messages from our higher selves in the evenings, guiding us to begin the day with specific rituals. This phenomenon suggests the importance of fostering a relationship with our higher selves, which can greatly benefit us in how we show up in our lives and our relationship with the present moment.
The Concept of a Daily Lifetime
Each day can be seen as an existence in and of itself—an eternity in a day where we get to choose what to create in this lifetime. This perspective may explain why many people emphasize the importance of a journaling practice, whether at night or another time during the day. Journaling helps us process our thoughts, set intentions, and reflect on our progress, acting as a bridge between our evening insights and morning actions.
Overcoming Old Coping Mechanisms
Many men, as they age, become aware of the need to kick old coping mechanisms. This realization often comes during the day, with the intention of 'starting tomorrow.' However, we tend to view the world in black and white, either arresting a behavior completely or not at all. As I've mentioned in previous posts, many men lean on substances and behaviors to avoid feeling vulnerable, afraid, angry, sad, or scared. This spectrum of emotions often becomes a 'no fly zone' because expressing weakness was not safe or welcomed in childhood. As adults, we become reactionary and struggle to express these emotions effectively.
The Importance of Rituals and Abstinence
There is something to be said for putting our avoidant behaviors in check. Creating space for ourselves to feel every emotion, free of avoidant behaviors, can be transformative. Many religious and spiritual practices observe times of abstinence, which can serve as a model for our own efforts to gain control over our lives.
Nutritional Fasts and Abstinence in Religious Practices
Various religions and spiritual practices incorporate nutritional fasts from food and abstinence from using machinery and technology as part of their rituals. Here are some notable examples:
Nutritional Fasts
Islam: During Ramadan, Muslims fast from dawn until sunset, abstaining from food, drink, smoking, and marital relations. This practice emphasizes self-discipline, self-control, and empathy for those less fortunate.
Christianity: Different Christian denominations observe fasting, particularly during Lent. Roman Catholics fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, while Eastern Orthodox Christians observe more rigorous fasting, including abstaining from meat, dairy, and sometimes even olive oil and wine.
Judaism: Jewish fasts, such as Yom Kippur and Tisha B'Av, involve abstaining from all food and drink from sunset to sunset. These fasts are intended for spiritual reflection, repentance, and mourning.
Hinduism: Hindus may fast on various occasions, such as Ekadashi, abstaining from grains and pulses and sometimes consuming only fruit, milk, and water for spiritual purification and discipline.
Abstinence from Machinery and Technology
Judaism: Observant Jews refrain from using electricity, driving cars, and engaging in various forms of work on the Sabbath (Shabbat) and Jewish holidays, focusing on rest, family, and spiritual matters.
Christianity: Some Christian groups, such as the Amish and Old Order Mennonites, abstain from using modern technology to maintain simple living, self-sufficiency, and separation from modern influences.
Islam: Some conservative Muslim communities limit the use of technology to maintain focus on spiritual and family life, particularly during holy months and days of worship.
Practical Steps for Implementing Change
For many men working on kicking various behaviors, such as smoking, drinking, video games, or cannabis, it is important to approach change in a practical and manageable way. This is not about viewing these behaviors as inherently wrong but about taking a proactive role in our lives. Popular trends like 'Sober October,' 'Sober Q1,' and 'Dry January' show that many people are exploring periods of abstinence to gain control over their habits.
Here are some practical steps:
Make a Plan: Outline a realistic plan for reducing or eliminating the behavior. Start with small, manageable changes.
Test and Adjust: Take your plan out for a walk. See what works for you and be willing to adjust as needed.
Create Rituals: Develop daily rituals that support your goals. These can include mindfulness practices, journaling, or physical activities that help you stay grounded.
Seek Support: Engage with a community or support group. Sharing your journey with others can provide encouragement and accountability.
Embracing the Divine Energy
The Field Guide posits that our avoidant behaviors keep the divine energy—whether you call it Chi, Prana, Holy Spirit, or Kundalini—trapped in our lower energy centers. By pausing these behaviors, we allow the universal divine energy to rise within us, filling us with the highest universal energy and enabling us to access and share our unique gifts with the world.
The Pause and the Storm
This can be an amazing time of self discovery when we take this monumental step forward. I call this time the pause and the storm because when we pause these behaviors, coping mechanisms we may have developed in childhood or shortly after, we can feel this almost storm of ignored and unfelt emotions that have been locked away for sometimes decades. This is a powerful time of release and healing. I can not emphasize this enough.
Personal Experience: Managing Rising Energy
I know from personal experience that when I abstain from certain behaviors, I start feeling energy rising within me around 2 PM. This energy can feel like a craving or agitation. To manage this, I have developed a ceremony around raising this energy. I allow it to move around, breathe it up my spine or center channel, accept it, and let it be. After some time, it passes, and I can move on with my day.
Conclusion: The Power of Choice
Change is not black and white. It is about making informed choices and finding what works best for you. By implementing daily rituals, creating space for our emotions, and embracing periods of abstinence, we can harness our divine energy and live more fulfilling lives. Remember, the journey inward is unique to each individual, but the path is universal. Embrace the power of choice and take proactive steps toward your transformation.