Rituals Create Authentic Connection
- Bonita Nuttall
- Jun 28, 2022
- 2 min read
๐๐ผ ๐๐ผ๐ ๐ต๐ฎ๐๐ฒ ๐ฎ ๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ฒ-๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐ฅ๐ถ๐๐๐ฎ๐น?
Without one, it can lead to lack of confidence, focus, clarity, ability to manage your state, ability to articulate and speak succinctly, ability to cope when things don't go according to plan and the list continues!
Just as world-class athletes have pre-games ritual, I believe every presenter needs one too.
"๐ฅ๐ถ๐๐๐ฎ๐น๐ ๐๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ ๐๐๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ถ๐ฐ ๐๐ผ๐ป๐ป๐ฒ๐ฐ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป"
I don't mean wearing the same pair of underwear repeatedly without washing them for a season of conferences, as they do in baseball. ๐คข That will NOT build connection. ๐
๐ฆ๐๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป, ๐น๐๐ฐ๐ธ ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐๐ฐ๐ถ๐ฒ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ?
๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ผ๐น๐ถ๐ป๐ฒ ๐ฆ๐ถ๐น๐ฏ๐, ๐ฃ๐ต.๐., ๐ฎ ๐๐ฝ๐ผ๐ฟ๐๐ ๐ฝ๐๐๐ฐ๐ต๐ผ๐น๐ผ๐ด๐ ๐ฒ๐ ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ for professional athletes says, โRituals allow you to create a pathway to ๐๐ค๐ฃ๐ฃ๐๐๐ฉ your mind and body and feel in control during a time where there are a lot of unknowns. [Then] we are more empowered to respond and make effective choices."
The Haka, performed by the All Blacks, is said to move the players, from "civilian" to the intensity of a rule-bound battle on โsacredโ ground. Let alone what it does to its opponents!
๐ ๐๐๐ฉ ๐๐๐๐ก๐ก๐จ ๐๐ซ๐๐ง๐ฎ ๐ฉ๐๐ข๐ ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฎ ๐ฅ๐๐ง๐๐ค๐ง๐ข ๐๐ฉ!!
Gary, a third-degree black belt in taekwondo. Before he puts on his dobok, he'd stops and kisses his belt, then ties it.
When asked about it, he says, 'Kissing the belt first is actually to honor it, set an intention and say, โI will do my best today while wearing this, no matter what comes my way.โ
๐ฅ๐ถ๐๐๐ฎ๐น๐ ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ฒ๐๐๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ถ๐ฎ๐น ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ฐ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ฎ๐๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ถ๐ฐ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐ป๐ป๐ฒ๐ฐ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐ผ ๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ป๐๐ฝ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ ๐๐ ๐ถ๐ป๐๐ผ ๐ฎ ๐๐๐ฎ๐๐ฒ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ธ ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ.
So what do they include? Could be:
1. Music - your theme song
2. Vocal and body warm up
3. Deep breathing exercises
4. Power Posing (Professor Amy Cuddy's work)
5. Do you have something special that is symbolic that you carry?
I love a good ritual! I do all of the above, and more before performing. What are some of your favourite rituals that you perform and why?
๐๐ ๐ฐ๐น๐๐๐ถ๐๐ฒ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ ๐ด๐ฟ๐ผ๐๐ฝ!
Tackle the 3 main areas in your ritual:
1. Mind - meditation and creating meaningful statements for yourself help to shift state effectively
2. Body - warm up your voice with vocal exercises. Stretch your body so that you are freer on stage, or when moving on stage
3. Emotions - music is your guide here and can evoke inspiration get you amped up to nail your presentation!
Let me know your thoughts. Do you have a ritual? ๐
ใณใกใณใ