We usually think of traditions as external — holiday dinners, sports seasons, family routines. For example, many people mark the start of fall by embracing school routines and football games, tying those experiences to food, celebration, or shopping for new “outer body” looks to boost confidence. These outward traditions, though sometimes seen as trivial, connect us to deeper feelings and meaning within.

But let’s flip the script. Inwardly, our minds are creating traditions too, often unconscious ones. Maybe it’s a habit of doubting yourself whenever a challenge arises. Maybe you’ve developed a tradition of procrastination that feels safe because it shields you from failure. Or you hold onto limiting beliefs handed down from past experiences that keep you stuck. These mental traditions can be much harder to spot because they wear the mask of normalcy.

The K.I.S.S. ~ Rewrite your mental rituals!

Here’s the hard truth: not all mental traditions serve you. Some are mental ruts that keep you small, making it challenging to grow into who you’re meant to be.

But the good news? You have that power to rewrite the mental rituals you live by. You get to decide what traditions you want to honor and which ones you’re ready to let go.

Change your mental traditions looks like this:

• Recognize: Identify what mental traditions you’re currently practicing. What thought patterns or habits do you repeat without questioning? Are they pushing you forward, or holding you back?
• Evaluate: Be honest about how those traditions affect your mindset and progress. Do they build your confidence or tear it down? Do they bring clarity or confusion? Are they aligned with who you want to become?
• Shift: Replace unhelpful mental traditions with new ones that serve your growth. This could mean adopting daily gratitude practices, questioning negative self-talk, or establishing a simple morning ritual to begin your day on your own terms.

Life doesn’t have to be a constant battle. You don’t have to force change through brute willpower or endless hustle.

“The key to greatness is in the quiet, deliberate work of changing what you allow to become a routine in your mind.” ~ Kristianne Wargo

So, what traditions are you building in your mind right now? Are they helping you become who you’re created to be — or are they the invisible chains keeping you stuck? Are they adding to your life or subtracting all that matters?

Take a moment to figure it out, because your next mental tradition could be the one that finally sets you free.

“Be present. Be incredible. Be YOU!!!“