When a family member decided to break from tradition, the impact was devastating. Beckie and I reacted with great distress. At first, I believed our reaction was connected to the loss of our granddaughter. That may be true, but there was more than grief that surfaced over the holidays. My search for deeper understanding kicked in as we were feeling kicked to the curb.
Tradition is something passed down the generations within a family or group. It is our custom, beliefs, and practices, often led by the elders. Traditions serve us in helping preserve identity while providing meaning for life. They bring predictability to a life of uncertainty. They’re a way of knowing who you are and where you belong, because you are part of something. They make you feel respected and appreciated. Who doesn’t need that? (tee hee)
Energetically, traditions are grounding activities that help you cope and manage stress. You are witness to the value of writing. It helps with perspective. As I write, I’m beginning to understand our reaction to the disregard of family tradition. Our younger generations may not value tradition. They oppose what is customary as a way to reject authority. Most might have little awareness of the positive benefits of following tradition. Let’s listen together to receive the benefits of a whisper on the subject of tradition:
Every culture has developed rituals and traditions going back for generations. They shift, change, and fade through the ages. Time is the mechanism for removing or strengthening a tradition. Preserving a tradition is a multi-faceted process. All traditions will eventually face rebellion. Some may not feel alignment or see the benefit of maintaining the cultural habits of the past. Others will naturally defy authority.
Traditions play a vital role in shaping who you are. They are a reminder of the struggle experienced by the generations who came before. Acts of celebration play a significant role in wellbeing, behavior, and general demeanor. Traditions offer a mechanism for emotional regulation and coping with stress.
Most traditions function as a way to lead you back to a familiar place. They offer a renewed spirit of appreciation. Joining hands in the energy of a tradition is joining hearts. It’s taking time to reinforce the values of integrity, faith, family, and personal responsibility. The human mind will seek shortcuts to these values, but traditions are habits important for brain efficiency. Traditions slow down time to eliminate the shortcut with a real-time experience.
Making sense out of life depends on meaningful experiences. Social bonds are fortified through family practices that provide a sense of belonging. Shaping personal identity depends on group cohesion in times of transition. Fostering trust with interpersonal relationships helps with emotional regulation. Knowing who you are and where you came from may involve painful memories. The pain serves as a reminder of how character was shaped to form strength through personal growth. Love is the energy that connects souls through a shared experience. To understand traditions is to appreciate their profound impact that gives meaning to life.
Bring joy, ease suffering and create beauty, then dance like you mean it!
Blessings, Russell
“Tradition means giving votes to the most obscure of all classes, our ancestors. It is the democracy of the dead. Tradition refuses to submit to the small and arrogant oligarchy of those who merely happen to be walking about.”
G.K. Chesterton
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True freedom comes from discipline. The growth of self-awareness is accomplished by having the determination to become the better version of yourself. With a focus on personal boundaries, human energy thrives in an environment where balance is achieved.
At the IEL Institute for the Spiritual Arts, a disciplined approach to learning leads to growth and development. With a desire to excel in learning about the metaphysical, the Universe can open a portal to the magic of life.
