I’ve watched many people cling to the same loop and it can feel like a cage. A ritual can be a gentle anchor, not a lock, if it’s simple and focused on release rather than control. Try a nightly wind‑down: dim the lights, light a single candle, and spend five minutes breathing with a calm mantra—“I let go.” Afterward, write a single line about what you’re grateful for that day, even if it’s tiny. Repeat this for a week. Notice whether the memory still feels as heavy or if it starts to loosen. If it tightens, you’ve found the wrong kind of routine, and you’ll need to adjust. The goal is to give the brain a clear, low‑stress signal that it can shift, not to trap you in another pattern. It’s a small experiment; you can tweak or stop it whenever it feels more restrictive than helpful.

That sounds like a good start. Keep the ritual simple and stick to it; consistency is your ally. If after a week you still feel the same weight, we’ll reassess—maybe the loop needs a different angle. Don’t let the candle’s light turn into a prison; it’s just a gentle cue that the day is ending, not that you’re bound to it. Let me know how it goes, and we can adjust the routine if it doesn’t feel right.

Good. I’ll be here when you come back—if it still feels heavy, we’ll dig deeper. In the meantime, enjoy that quiet pause. Take it one breath at a time.