Welcome back to the podcast! This is such a fun episode, all about the power of rituals in the kitchen (and beyond). I speak with Dr. Michael Norton, a leading behavior scientist, behavioral economics researcher, Harvard Business School Professor, and business speaker obsessed with unlocking the secrets of human behavior and well-being. He’s the author of the new book, The Ritual Effect: From Habit to Ritual, Harness the Surprising Power of Everyday Actions.
While I’ve written about rituals in the past (here and here), it was so fun to better understand the psychology of rituals, and how we can use them to enhance our lives. Dr. Norton describes what a ritual is, and how it differs from a habit or tradition. We explore how rituals have the power to connect us to ourselves, to each other, to our past, as well as to the foods we eat. Dr. Norton explains why rituals can imbue our lives with more meaning, and how they can also be a safe outlet for expressing emotions.
A ritual doesn’t have to be complicated or time consuming—in fact, a ritual can literally be anything (just wait until you hear about the candles in the meatloaf!). It isn’t about the action itself, but about the intention behind it. I hope this episode inspires you to look at the rituals you already have in your own life and even to create new ones.
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xo, Nicki
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Episode Links:
Michael Norton’s website
Micheal’s book: The Ritual Effect: From Habit to Ritual, Harness the Surprising Power of Everyday Actions
MBSF essay: Rituals in the Kitchen
MBSF essay: Intentional Cooking
Recent Episodes:
The Best of Spring Cooking with Ali Slagle | Apple Podcasts | Spotify
Beyond Just Food: Whole Life Nourishment with Vaness Henry | Apple Podcasts | Spotify
Intuition, Food & Freedom with Bella Lively | Apple Podcasts | Spotify
Gaining Trust in Our Bodies Through Stillness with Nicki Sizemore | Apple Podcasts | Spotify
Food as Connection + Cooking Winter Vegetables with Hetty McKinnon | Apple Podcasts | Spotify
The Power of Rituals (in the kitchen and out)