logo
episode-header-image
Jul 2024
1h 14m

How Turning Habits Into Rituals Can Help...

10% Happier
About this episode

New episodes come out every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for free, with 1-week early access for Wondery+ subscribers.

A Harvard professor on how to elevate everyday activities in order to lift your mood, improve your relationships and rise to new challenges.

Michael Norton is the Harold M. Brierley Professor of Business Administration at the Harvard Business School. He has studied human behavior as it relates to love and inequality, time and money, and happiness and grief. He is the author of The Ritual Effect: From Habit to Ritual, Harness the Surprising Power of Everyday Actions. 

In this episode we talk about: 

  • The difference between habits and rituals
  • How rituals impact various spheres of life, including creativity, grief and politics - and how not all rituals are beneficial 
  • how to transform your everyday activities into rituals and how they can inject meaning into your life and give a boost to your relationships
  • How to introduce rituals into your workplace without falling back on cliché (like trust falls)

Related Episodes:

What Science Says About Money and Happiness | Elizabeth Dunn — Ten Percent Happier 

How to Benefit From Religion, Even as a Nonbeliever | David DeSteno — Ten Percent Happier

How to Change Your Habits | Katy Milkman — Ten Percent Happier   

Sign up for Dan’s weekly newsletter here

Follow Dan on social: Instagram, TikTok

Ten Percent Happier online bookstore

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel

Our favorite playlists on: Anxiety, Sleep, Relationships, Most Popular Episodes

Full Shownotes: https://www.tenpercent.com/tph/michael-norton/

Additional Resources:

Up next
Today
Three Strategies for Getting Over Yourself | Joseph Goldstein
Every year, Joseph Goldstein does a three month silent meditation retreat by himself at his home in Massachusetts. In this conversation you're about to hear, Joseph had just emerged from one such retreat with a bunch of thoughts on what are called the three proliferating tendenci ... Show More
1h 16m
Oct 8
How To Find Calm in a World on Fire | Pico Iyer
The antidote to a noisy, chaotic world. Pico Iyer is the acclaimed and bestselling author of more than a dozen books translated into twenty-three languages, most recently the nationally bestselling Aflame: Learning from Silence. In this episode we talk about: Why and how Pico fou ... Show More
1h 9m
Oct 6
Are You a Grudge Holder or a Revenge Seeker? Here’s How It’s Hurting You – And How To Get Over It | James Kimmel, Jr.
The psychology and neuroscience of revenge. James Kimmel, Jr. is a lecturer in psychiatry at the Yale School of Medicine, an expert on revenge, a lawyer, and the founder and co-director of the Yale Collaborative for Motive Control Studies. He is the creator of The Nonjustice Syst ... Show More
1h 11m
Recommended Episodes
Jul 2024
How to Harness the Power of Rituals with Michael Norton
In this episode, Michael Norton shares how to harness the power of rituals in everyday life. He discusses the difference between rituals and habits that shed light on the transformative power of rituals. Michael's research and anecdotes emphasize the emotional and psychological b ... Show More
57m 35s
Nov 2024
The Key To Happiness w/ Dr. Amen
What if being happy was a moral obligation, like voting and recycling? Would you take steps to be happier? Today, I’m joined by brain health expert, and New York Times best-selling author Dr. Daniel Amen to talk about how our thinking patterns shape our lives in and outside of th ... Show More
42m 49s
Apr 2024
How to Strengthen Your Decision-Making Muscle & Rewire Your Brain to Feel More Confident & Grateful | Liz Moody
Ep 112. Are you over all of the gimmicky, expensive tools in the health space right now? Do you want to go deeper to address foundational topics related to the things that actually impact your quality of life – like healthier communication, better confidence, and rewiring your br ... Show More
1h 2m
Dec 2024
SPECIAL: How Two Hard-Charging Busy Entrepreneurs Turn Off Their Brains, Meditate, De-Stress, Relax & Raise Kids: Anxiety Hacks & More With Katie Krimitsos
Today I have something a little different for you that I think you’ll love. It’s an interview I did with the incredible Ben Greenfield and I’m sharing it with you here because our conversation was so pure and full of insights on how to navigate the holidays - and your whole life ... Show More
59m 52s
Nov 2024
Why You Need a Dopamine Detox: The Science Based Way to Master Self Control & Break Addiction Patterns with Dr. Alok Kanojia
This episode is brought to you by Momentous, Lifeforce, and One Skin. In today’s world, addiction takes many forms—whether it’s alcohol, drugs, social media, or snacking on ultra-processed foods. Certain key factors drive these behaviors and make breaking the cycle of addiction c ... Show More
1h 26m
Feb 2025
Why Discipline Beats Motivation: Expert Tips for Lasting Success
Ep. 176: In this special Mashup episode of POW, we’re featuring powerful insights from Mimi Bouchard and Melissa Wood on mindset, self-transformation, and personal growth. Learn how to reprogram limiting beliefs, build confidence, and create daily habits that align with your high ... Show More
46m 42s
Apr 2024
2325: Why Marriages Fail & What to Do About It With Dr. John Delony
The most challenging calls he has received. (1:24) The shift in divorce statistics. (6:29) Why men need work, family, and a higher purpose. (9:59) You can’t do anything hard based on feel. (15:43) The new rules for a successful marriage. (17:55) The power in celebrating wins and ... Show More
1h 23m
Mar 2025
How to Get Your Life Together: The 90/10 Rule
There’s never been more information out there about psychology, self-improvement, and mental health, making it easy to get lost in the details and lose sight of what matters. In this special episode, Forrest and Dr. Rick apply the 90/10 rule to psychology and self-help: what are ... Show More
1h 21m
Jan 2025
How To Change Your Habits, Achieve Your Goals & Live A Contented Life with Sahil Bloom #517
In a world seemingly obsessed with financial success, what does it truly mean to be wealthy? And what if the path to a more meaningful life has less to do with what we earn and more to do with how we live? Today's guest is Sahil Bloom, successful entrepreneur and online creator w ... Show More
2h 4m
Aug 21
#983 - Gay Hendricks - Deeply Connected Relationships
Gay Hendricks is a psychologist, teacher, and an author renowned for his work on relationship transformation. Conscious loving is about more than just romance, it’s about clarity, commitment, and growth. With endless advice on the internet on how to optimize your love life, what ... Show More
1h 32m