The Practice

This is a concept that has been on my mind to share for a long time.

I want to help people understand that a well-developed life takes practice.

This concept came to me when I started practicing yoga.

I learned that it was a practice early on and that to feel better in mind, body, and spirit, I needed to keep up with my practice.

As yoga students, we practice together, feeling the combined energy, receiving instruction and encouragement, and supporting each other during each class. I have been practicing yoga with the same people for 20 years. When we see each other, there is an immediate connection, even though we aren't necessarily personal friends. We share the practice!

I like to take this concept into other areas of our life.

In order to get good at something, you need to develop the skill.

Developing a skill takes practice.

Deep breathing takes practice.

Meditation is a practice.

Lifting weights is a practice.

Eating blueberries and walnuts for breakfast is a practice.

Pausing when your partner irritates you is a practice.

Flossing your teeth is a practice.

We can create practices to enhance the many areas of our lives which include our personal relationships, jobs/careers, money/finances, recreation/leisure, spiritual, social, health/wellness.

The practices are just little habits we adopt and decide to do over and over again until we don't even think about it. It was like this with flossing my teeth. One day I just decided I didn't ever want to experience gum disease so I began flossing nightly. That was about 30 years ago. My mother had periodontal disease and when I witnessed that I made the decision. Now, I have very healthy gums. Do you want healthy gums? Then I recommend to practice flossing. Every day. Don't miss a day for 90 days and after that, you will feel guilty if you miss a night.

Same with any other habit. Maybe you want to give up sugar.

Start with one day...no sugar. If you have to have something sweet, find a natural substitute, like dates or honey.

We can practice saving money...$5 at a time. What would that take really? Skipping a Starbucks order once a week? It's a practice.

I think you get the point.

I want to repeat this: To have a well-developed life takes practice. Well-developed means healthy, whole, balanced, in mind, body, and spirit. Those three feed the other areas of your life.

If you want to explore the concept with me, reach out and we can have a conversation about it...no strings attached. Let me help you with one habit/practice.