thoughts on practice.
I've had practice on my mind a lot over the past few weeks. In 2012, I established twelve practices. I thought about those practices again when I wrote about rituals during the Reverb project. I'm drawn to the concept of practice more than goals (although, I do still set goals. I waver.). When I look at things as a goal, it's too "easy" for me to give up when I miss a day. I tend to be a little black & white. The concept of practice feels more forgiving – you can always do better the next time. As I reviewed those twelve practices, I realized that most are still important to me, and I've renewed my focus for 2014.
Specifically –
1. a yoga practice – needing, wanting to get back into a yoga class. My friend, Leigh, and I were talking about practice in the context of yoga, and she really captured it so very well – we all practice yoga because few are masters. She was also sharing that she hasn't found a yoga home. Totally get that, although I'm fortunate to feel that way about Laughing River Yoga. Time to go home.
2. a meditation practice – daily. no time minimum. no requirement to be sitting in a particular place. Some days, I'm following guided meditation, some days ocean sounds, some days silence. Other days, it's about mantras. Still other days are just about pausing to take a breath.
3. a calendar practice – iCal for the win. I've also used an email service that sends a remind when tasks are due (my children LOVE getting an email to take the trash out. Ha!).
4. an exercise practice – still getting back into this practice. Back/hip pain derails me a lot.
5. a writing practice – I'm practicing morning pages right now, most often using 750words.
6. a gratitude practice – I've bounced all around on this one – using a gratitude journal, an app, instagram, etc. I'll continue to use a variety of ways to document, but I'm trying to lean toward putting pen to paper in my journal.
7. a OLW practice – I haven't signed up for Ali's class yet, but after seeing Lee's first month, I'm very tempted. I'm grateful (see practice #6) for friends who are helping me keep my OLW front & center by asking "is that moving you forward?"
For 2014, I'm adding at least one new practice…
8. a bedtime practice – Trying to fend off insomnia with a few new habits - washing my face every night (I'm fortunate to have very good skin that has endured years of neglect), reading a bit before going to sleep, buying new pjs instead of throwing on a ratty t-shirt.
Although I'm not one to use sports analogies, I think that this one fits – teams practice whether they win or lose a game. It's the daily/weekly practice that keeps them in shape. They show up. They do the work. They try again, and again, and again.
How 'bout you? What are you practicing?
9 Comments
Beth
Wow, Katrina! This is revolutionary—seriously! Thank you so much for this. I LOVE the idea of practices, not goals, as I lean heavily on the black-and-white spectrum myself and need to take a kinder, gentler approach. Thanks for being you!
Lee Currie
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE. My response will be on my blog tomorrow 🙂 THANK YOU. I had no idea how much I practice – or how much has changed in the last year when I completely gave up on one simple thing. I gained so much more!
Angie
I’m currently reading The Happiness Project and have been thinking that I want to adopt 12 goals or practices that I want to incorporate into my life. I’m taking my time really contemplating my list…
Barb
I love the idea of practice far more than resolution. It emphasizes that PRACTICE is involved in improvement.
Katrina Simeck
Oh, Beth – I adore you! That’s the magic in practice – it’s always a beautiful shade of grey.
Katrina Simeck
Love you! The other part of this (and I should write about this) is that I resist endings…so practice allows me to adjust & continue….
Katrina Simeck
First – we need to have coffee soon!!! Second – I am SO excited that you’re reading The Happiness Project! Can’t wait to hear your list!
Katrina Simeck
Unrelated – your New Year’s card? Amazing. xoxox
Misty
Cannot say how much I loved the differentiation between a goal and a practice. It is a slight shift in perspective that allows for grace to seep in. I can relate to so many of your practices as well. I have signed up for Ali’s class this year which is shocking because I am a scrapbooking virgin. I like how low-maintenance it is and she makes it clear and doable even for me!