Daily habits make life worth it despite uncertainties

Life is full of uncertainty. We experience the vast complexity of our world as “one great blooming, buzzing confusion”. We know all too well how this buzzing confusion can make us feel. But life’s uncertainty takes on a new meaning the moment we peer inside the inner workings of the brain. For all its myriad complex functions, the brain’s chief job is to draw predictions about the future and to orient behaviour in line with those predictions.

The brain does so by gathering as much information as possible and then using the data as inputs into the predictor system. The problem is the brain isn’t able to get all the information it needs to make accurate predictions. As a result, it experiences countless sources of uncertainty. When this happens, systems in the brain fire off warnings called “prediction error signals.” Of course, this is all going on behind the scenes. The real show, what really matters for us, is the feeling that these signals give way to the blooming, buzzing confusion of anxious uncertainty.

We can think of it like this: A brain that can predict (that is certain) makes a human feel safe and happy. A brain that cannot predict (that is uncertain) makes a human feel threatened and anxious.

Beneath this explanation is a scary thought. The brain simply cannot predict everything because it is impossible to gather all the information it needs, all the time. A positive twist is the ritual shield.

Luckily, we humans have figured out ways to deal with this anxiety and to optimise our behaviour. Over eons of adapted change, we’ve evolved a suite of behavioural and cognitive responses that help quell the inevitability of life’s uncertainties.

Of all these, rituals seem to be particularly good in this regard. Scholars have long known about the anxiolytic properties of rituals. They bring order and structure to a world that is inherently disordered and chaotic. Rituals are an effective shield that protect us from the onslaught of uncertain events. But how exactly does this work? What is the magic of rituals? The quick answer is, less about magic and more about science.

The science and psychology of rituals offers compelling explanations for how rituals work when it comes to combating uncertainty and anxiety.

A scripted sequence of ritualistic movements tricks the brain into thinking that it’s in a pleasant state

The anxiety-busting features of rituals reside in their basic physical structure. The defining features of rituals, repetitive and rigid movements, buffer against uncertainty by evoking a sense of personal control and orderliness. The very act of engaging in a scripted sequence of ritualistic movements tricks the brain into thinking that it’s experiencing the pleasant state of predictability and stability.

The crux of the argument says that in times when uncertainty is beyond our control, the brain will subconsciously lead us to engage in ritualised movements as a compensatory mechanism to bring about a sense of personal control. This is the starting point for all of life’s little (and big) rituals.

The “ritualised” movements that help rid us of anxiety are the building blocks of the full-blown rituals we see in real life. Take a look, for instance, at some of our most cherished cultural and religious rituals. You’ll notice just how much repetition and scripted rigidity are built into them. This isn’t just happenstance. These behaviours fulfil a fundamental psychological need. They give us a sense of structure when all structure is lost. They convince the brain that things in our world are predictable, ordered, and safe.

So, what are your anxiety-busting rituals? Ask yourself this question and see which of your day-today behaviours are helping you navigate the roads of uncertainty. Of those that you already do, consider making them more formal, committing to them with greater intention and personal resolve.

There’s a bonus feature to this as well. The certainty rituals create through their basic structure gets compounded over time. The more we do them, the more meaningful they become, to both us and to any others with whom we might share them. And meaning is a powerful psychological force that can respond to almost any source of uncertainty and anxiety.

Life is full of uncertainty. But the blooming, buzzing confusion of our world stands little chance against the power of rituals. —Psychology Today