The ritual is when you get to the how, so how you do them starts to matter, the way in which you do them, your own personal way, means more to you, and that's like the very beginning to me of the difference between a habit and a ritual. Just the idea that the very

same simple boring actions can sometimes get imbued with more,

more emotion, more meaning, more something.

To me that's when it moves from kind of the mindless habit

to something a little bit richer.

Have you ever wondered

what the difference is between habits and ritual?

Or maybe you wonder, why do we do things like celebrate birthdays with cake and candles?

Why do couples develop special routines together? Why do you eat or drink or do the couple develop special routines together?

Why do you eat or drink or do the same things every day but in a mindful way?

And what does science say that this actually does for you?

My guest today, researcher and Professor Michael Norton, says,

these types of rituals do more than just mark occasions.

They can literally transform our emotional experiences and connect us with ourselves and

others. And in my experience rituals they provide comfort and meaning especially

during times of change but how actually do they work and how can we harness

rituals to affect incredible change in our lives?

And what's even the difference between a ritual and a habit?

Because we've heard so much about habits.

But what about these things called rituals and the power they hold?

Michael is the Harold M. Brearley Professor of Business Administration at Harvard Business School,

and he provides fascinating insights in his new book,

...