| Our post-modern electric kool-aid acid world has | | | | Without the lift I receive from performing the Five |
| swept most rituals into the compost pile. Even | | | | Rituals before work, I would not have the energy to |
| defining ritual is a struggle.from Wikipedia: | | | | keep up with the kids. Red Bull is not enough. |
| “The purposes of rituals are varied; they include | | | | Proponents of the Five Rituals claim the following |
| compliance with religious obligations or ideals, | | | | benefits: |
| satisfaction of spiritual or emotional needs of the | | | | -look younger |
| practitioners, strengthening of social bonds, | | | | -feel younger |
| demonstration of respect or submission, stating one's | | | | -increased energy |
| affiliation, obtaining social acceptance or approval for | | | | -live longer |
| some event — or, sometimes, just for the | | | | -reduced stress |
| pleasure of the ritual itself.” | | | | -increased vitality |
| has a number of definitions, including: | | | | -increased virility |
| “any practice or pattern of behavior regularly | | | | -sense of well-being |
| performed in a set manner ” | | | | -spiritual enlightenment |
| I like to go a little more specific. I think of a ritual as | | | | -balanced life |
| a habit with an attitude, or a deliberate habit with a | | | | -unlock the potential of the brain |
| purpose. | | | | -positive outlook on life |
| Bad habits are easy to develop. Bad rituals are not. | | | | -slow the aging process |
| The secret is in the word “deliberate”. | | | | -increased productivity |
| I place the five rituals into the physical realm of what | | | | -boost in self-esteem |
| I refer to as critical activities. In each major area of | | | | -heightened immune system |
| one's life – mental, physical, emotional, spiritual, | | | | -less fatigue |
| financial, vocational, social – an individual can | | | | -positive emotions |
| identify certain activities which are critical to success. | | | | -less depression |
| Critical activities vary from person to person. | | | | Let's face it. The promises are just about everything |
| For example, if one is type II diabetic, a critical | | | | except the location of Jimmy Hoffa's remains. I'm a |
| activity in the physical plane might be not consuming | | | | skeptic. I don't need everything on the list. If I have |
| any processed foods containing sugar or flour. For | | | | more energy, look a bit younger than that ID photo, |
| other individuals, a trip to the donut shop is a treat, | | | | and a touch more virility, the rest of the items in the |
| not an invitation to a sugar coma. | | | | list will take care of themselves. |
| I work each day to turn what I perceive as my | | | | Caveats: |
| critical activities into rituals. The five Tibetan rituals | | | | 1.Start with 7 reps of each ritual instead of 3. If you |
| make that job easier. | | | | are basically healthy, 3 reps just seems to be too |
| I started a new job recently with an online university | | | | little. Max for each ritual is 21. |
| where most of my co-workers are half my age. | | | | 2.Ritual 6 is one you will want to add. |
| When I saw the ID badge they gave me, I | | | | 3.Ritual 7 is one most will avoid, especially if your |
| wondered who the old man was in the photo. (Inside | | | | virility has increased, if you get my drift. |
| every old man is a young stud wondering what | | | | If you find, as I do, that the Five Rituals are critical |
| happened.) | | | | to your physical and mental well-being, you will find 10 |
| We work 10 hour days in an intense environment. | | | | minutes each morning to start your day right. |