If you've ever watched a square dance, you'll notice that the uniformed teams will always dance better than those in their own clothes.
You go to learn Latin dance, you will find that those who have Latin dance line will always dance more focused and serious than those who dress casually.
Why is that? Because, to be good at something, you need to have a certain sense of ritual.
A sense of ceremony is the most direct way for people to express their inner feelings
The reason why many people's lives are dull and uninteresting is actually the lack of a sense of ceremony.
Psychologically speaking, this psychological cue is important.
Is it hard to dance? It's not hard, as long as you're not trying to go pro, anyone can get up there and twirl a few times. And you don't care if your moves are standardized or not, if they look good or not, just laugh.
But if you buy a set of clothes and shoes specifically for dancing before you learn to dance, you won't think so. Because wearing this outfit is equivalent to a dancing ritual, so that you won't mentally feel like you're coming over to have fun, not only will you feel more confident, but it's also a way of suggesting to yourself that "this is important, this is a ritual for me to learn how to dance", and then you'll be more attentive to dancing."
In life, you will find that no matter what you do, people who have a sense of ceremony are always more serious than those who do not have a sense of ceremony, more attitude, but also more able to enjoy the thing itself, and often get twice the result with half the effort.
I heard that Lin Huiyin must burn incense and flowers before composing poems at night, put on a white silk robe after bathing, and meditate on the poems in the flickering candlelight, and probably the famous "April Day" was born in such an atmosphere.
Writer Yanni Lin said in an interview that she likes to spread out pink paper before writing, and also spray perfume on the paper.
While others say she wastes perfume, she says that when she writes late at night, the cozy perfume creates a nice atmosphere and makes her feel more inspired.
Many people say it would be pretentious.
But maybe it's because of this pretentiousness about life and work that proves that they have an endless love for it, and if they do everything randomly, scribbling to begin with, it's a sign of a lack of attention.
It is true that a nine-to-five job can be tiring and boring, and does not inspire enthusiasm.
But if you can create some happy rituals for each of your workdays, the days won't be so hard.
Which makes you feel more comfortable, a messy desk or an organized one?
Would a pot of flowers on your desk make you more enthusiastic about your work?
Rituals are essentially psychological cues.
People who value rituals in their lives subconsciously know best how to suggest to themselves that they enjoy every day and do everything well.
This is not as simple as superficial formalism.
Because it will make you feel meaningful. If it's meaningful, you'll make an effort, and it won't be random.
It will make you take what you're trying to do seriously. It will give you a passion that you must do well.
Why do you dress so formally when you meet clients?
Why do you have to wear a wedding dress when you get married?
Every day before you go out with good clothes and make-up, and the face of the casual wear, that will make you more table God is good?
Because the ritual of wearing a dress will make you pay more attention to this matter and make you more confident.
In The Little Prince, the fox says that ritual is what makes one moment different from others.
I think it's incredibly true. When you have a ritual for bathing and a ritual for working, make each moment distinct and your life will be full of layers.
Shops or companies open, like to engage in an opening ceremony, set off a firecracker, cut a color, implying a wide range of sources of wealth, business is booming.
In fact, this kind of ceremony can not guarantee a certain source of customers, but because of this sense of ceremony, will let the staff in the consciousness of the power to feel, as a milestone in the beginning of the business, everyone will be happy, complacent.
I think this is the meaning of doing things with a sense of ceremony, giving everything a special memorial, a special starting point in which to carry on with joy.
In fact, many of our lives are disorganized and chaotic. If something is given a sense of ceremony, it will be like lighting a lamp for oneself in the dark night, and the whole person can radiate energy and bottom.
If, before you do an important thing, you also add some sense of ceremony to yourself. Then your life, for sure, will shine more brightly.