Hey there,

Last week, I was sipping coffee in the sunshine on vacation in beautiful Crestone Colorado. This week, I’m back home—and back to the comfort of my mornings.

Routines are what help me function. Rituals are what help me feel.

Every morning starts the same:
☕ Coffee with my husband before the teenagers wake up
🧘 20 minutes of yoga to move my body
🧠 A brain dump to clear my mind
🗓️ A few minutes to schedule what matters

That’s my routine—a rhythm that runs on autopilot and saves my brain energy for the things that matter most. (That’s actually thanks to the basal ganglia, which stores habits and reduces decision fatigue, freeing up executive function—aka the part of your brain that helps you focus, plan, and stay calm.)

But when I’m feeling scattered, stressed, or disconnected… it’s not the routine that brings me back.

It’s the rituals I’ve layered in.

Rituals are small, intentional moments that help with emotional regulation—they calm the nervous system, reduce anxiety, and bring meaning to the everyday.

Here’s how my mornings look when I add in the feeling:

✨ Routine: Coffee with my husband
✨ Ritual: Holding my warm mug with two hands before the first sip
✨ Routine: Yoga
✨ Ritual: Breathing through whatever comes up, no pressure
✨ Routine: Brain dump + schedule the day
✨ Ritual: Letting it all out without judgment
✨ Routine: Make breakfast and eat with my son
✨ Ritual: Chat with him about the day ahead and be fully present
✨ Routine: Start the day’s work
✨ Ritual: Set an intention in the my journal before I dive in

This week, your way to Burn Bright, Not Out is to take one routine and turn it into a ritual.
Add presence. Add care. Let it support you.

With love,
Sybil

PS: Best-selling author Andrew Hallam is speaking to us on Monday, and you can join for free! Just reply to this email, and I will send you the link!