Personal rituals can take you far in life. We all want to be deliberate in our day to day life, but inevitably, sometimes that day flies by so quickly that we get swept up in the hectic pace and find ourselves simply going through the motions. To slow down, some of us find peace through creative rituals, and others through grounding physical rituals. Seattle-based photographer Alex Quetzali has one for herself, the Spanish phrase vive con gozo, that she thinks about daily.
She tells us,
“The direct translation of vive con gozo means to live with joy. Life is full of difficulties that can cause darkness in our perspectives. Though searching for joy in our daily life can be challenging, it is a challenge worth embracing. Joy opens our hearts to love, peace, and opportunity. It’s a reminder to prioritize a positive perspective.”
Sometimes, all we need is that reminder. Psychology has proven that focusing on positive traits over negative ones can transform your brain—focus on the good, and your brain will literally create new neural pathways. If that seems challenging at first, think about focusing on the positive as a way to strengthen your brain, a strategic sort of game that pays off infinitely for you—a strategy that can be adopted in language learning and acquisition.
For Alex, vive con gozo “is less of a mantra, and more of a mindset. In moments when I'm overwhelmed, I write down 10 things that bring me joy.” Try taking a page from Alex’s book and find your own ritual phrase, something you can repeat and come back to in times of need. These acts of repetition build connections between moments in our everyday lives, creating a sense of familiarity that we can find comfort in over time.
This article is part of the Rituals edit of DIMMI DIGEST. September marks the beginning and the end of so many things— the end of summer, the beginning of a new school year; the time when lush green spaces slowly turn golden yellow and orangey-brown to match the crisp weather. Through repetition, rituals connect us to family and ancestors, giving us the opportunity to look at the world through a familiar yet vintage lens, allowing us to plant our feet knowing that the layers of our history below us are there to support and guide us. Whether a ritual is centuries old or a new tradition, they’re a meaningful way to connect to those around you, or maybe even deepen your connection with yourself.
