Rituals to Cultivate Human Flourishing
“When we show up with another person and we’re kind, it’s not only affecting our biology. It’s going to affect the biology of the person with whom we’re interacting.”
Close your eyes and take yourself back to a nourishing conversation with a friend. How did you feel when you were together? Did your heartbeat and breathing calm? Did they ease your worries or make you laugh?
I cherished these moments as the gift of friendship, until our guests unveiled a deeper meaning…
Connection is an invitation to contribute to each other’s vitality.
“There’s deep interdependence that is a biological reality…When we cultivate healthy habits of mind, it actually changes our brain and our bodies. So, when we show up with another person and we’re kind, it’s not only affecting our biology. It’s going to affect the biology of the person with whom we’re interacting.”
Dr. Richard J. Davidson studies human flourishing as the Founder of the Center for Healthy Minds and Healthy Minds Innovations as well as a professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. His team illuminates that well-being doesn’t need to be left up to chance. It’s a skill we can cultivate, for ourselves and each other.
“When human beings first evolved on this planet, none of us were brushing our teeth. Yet, I'm certain that everyone listening to this interview brushes their teeth. This is not part of our genome. This is something that we've learned to do.
I think most people would also agree that their minds and their hearts are more important than their teeth. Yet, most people don't even take the time that is spent brushing their teeth intentionally nourishing their mind and their heart.
If we all spent even as short of a time as we spend brushing our teeth nourishing our mind in this way, this world would be a completely different place.”
This week, we’re exploring two practices to do so. First, an exercise to strengthen our compassion muscle; Followed by a morning ritual to set an intention for each of our daily interactions.
Who is one person you’d like to grow closer to? How might these practices deepen your connection?
With gratitude,
Jenna