Practice makes perfect
If you are on the path of self-growth and development, you will be familiar with the idea that practice is essential. You may experience quick-wins, but if you are to have sustained and on-going growth, practice is a given. Quick-wins are great. They show you what is possible. Then you need to put in the graft to make that possibility an on-going and repeatable reality. You want to have it in your bones so that you have access to it at will.
Why is practice so important
In our busy lives, we often do not feel like we have time to practice. There are always reasons why you do not have time to do something. The question is, “Do you want things to stay the same, or change for the better?” If you want things to be better, you want to set intention and then practice until that intention becomes manifest.
Without practice, the quick-wins do not become permanent change or growth. Practice allows your body to set down the new wiring of your nervous system. It also beds in the new pathways so that they are more likely to be used. At the same time, the old pathways are being dismantled. If the body is not using them, it has no need for them and so it breaks them down and recycles the parts. That is why “perfect practice makes perfect”. This is an expression a friend and mentor of mine says and it has become a mantra for me.
Make the time to practice diligently whatever new habits you want to learn and embed. Take the time to practice the technique right and you are supporting your body in creating new, more empowering habits and letting out-dated habits go. This can be applied to physical activities such as running faster or further or mountain climbing, learning a skill like playing the piano or listening more deeply and embedding new mind-sets, for example, around money, work processes or health.
Intention
What are your desired outcomes? There is a pain you want to address- what are you willing to do to achieve that? There is a problem you want to solve- what changes do you want to see? What practical steps are you going to take to get there?
You start from the inside out. With emotion. What is driving you? A lack of confidence? Financial freedom? Better relationships with your partner, children, friends, colleagues? Clarity on life purpose? More fulfilling work? These are all emotive topics- particularly if you experience pain around them.
And these emotions drive your intention. They act like a magnet that aligns you physically, mentally and emotionally. From this place, you are more likely to take action. But it has to be the right kind of action or you will not achieve your goal.
“What” do you practice?
So, practice with intention. Be specific and focus on your goals and desired outcomes. Be intentional. Whether it is a practical skill like martial arts or driving a car you wish to perfect or developing your leadership style or your competency as a solopreneur, intention and practice will be central to your success.
Learn from others what is required. Have a mentor, teacher or guide. Hone your skill. Become an expert. Practice whatever you require to excel.
The Challenge
You will meet challenges. Your body resists change. All biological systems strive for balance. Growth and changing behaviour throw the system that is you out of balance. So, the system fights back to maintain the status quo. If you come at this from a perspective of patience and compassion, you will give yourself the time and opportunity to practice. In time the new way of doing things will become the status quo. And while it serves you, there is no reason to change it. Once it stops serving you, change and growth are required to move things forward and take the next step.
Are you practising to be technically better? There is benefit in honing your practical skills so that you can perform well in any activity. Martial Arts is full of technical considerations. Life coaching requires a particular skill set that can be improved. Any activity requires practice of skills. Learn impeccable technical knowledge and practice endlessly those basic skills that are the foundation of all the advanced techniques. Writing with a pen, driving a car, golf swings, listening skills, dance steps- all have technical skills to practice. This is the “what” of your practice.
“How” do you practice?
“How” you practice is just as important as “what” you practice
It is not all about “what” you do. There is also the “how” of your practice. By which I mean, what qualities are you using and cultivating when you are doing your practice? Are you developing cold and clinical execution or passion-filled expression driven by the emotion of the moment? Do you drive yourself to complete a certain number of repetitions or achieve something in a specific window of time? Or are you freer in your practice and go by what feels right?
In an earlier blog, I explained the 4 elements. This is a convenient way to describe qualities you might cultivate in your practice. Earth is more technical and precision based. Water more flowing and relational. Fire focuses on directness and driving through. While Air is lighter, creative and spontaneous.
How does the “how” you do something serve you? You may want to be really efficient at updating your book-keeping but this approach may not work when building a vision for your business or dreaming up a family holiday. Taking time to build rapport may be incredibly important in building relationships but serve you less when trying to meet a deadline or getting the kids to school. Embodying the 4 elements can be a way of exploring the “how” of your practice so that you make the most of your time and get the most from each moment.
Perfect practice makes perfect
Only you can decide what is perfect for you. There is no absolute right way or wrong way. It is all about getting the results you want. If life does not feel amazing, then there is room for improvement. How can you tap into your own potential to create more of the life you want for yourself? Are you earning the money you want? Do you feel fulfilled in your work as you would like to? Are your relationships with family and friends as you would wish? Are your health, fitness and well-being at the level you want? Does life feel balanced? Or are you out of whack?
Over to you
So, look at the areas of your life that work and celebrate. No, really. Congratulate yourself on a job well done. Savour the success- be it being able to pick up the kids from school and having quality play time with them during the week or feeling that your work contributes to society in a meaningful way to you. You made that happen. Celebrate that.
And those areas that need work, find out what will work better and practice. Work out what you need to do and how you do it for greater success, well-being and happiness. I’d love to hear what you’ve got planned. And if you would like some support to work out what you want to be different and how to achieve that, please reach out.
Pass it on
If you found this blog useful, please pass it on to anyone you know who might find it interesting as well. Thank you.
Are you fed up with being Strong?
Does Practice make Perfect?
Practice makes perfect
If you are on the path of self-growth and development, you will be familiar with the idea that practice is essential. You may experience quick-wins, but if you are to have sustained and on-going growth, practice is a given. Quick-wins are great. They show you what is possible. Then you need to put in the graft to make that possibility an on-going and repeatable reality. You want to have it in your bones so that you have access to it at will.
Why is practice so important
In our busy lives, we often do not feel like we have time to practice. There are always reasons why you do not have time to do something. The question is, “Do you want things to stay the same, or change for the better?” If you want things to be better, you want to set intention and then practice until that intention becomes manifest.
Without practice, the quick-wins do not become permanent change or growth. Practice allows your body to set down the new wiring of your nervous system. It also beds in the new pathways so that they are more likely to be used. At the same time, the old pathways are being dismantled. If the body is not using them, it has no need for them and so it breaks them down and recycles the parts. That is why “perfect practice makes perfect”. This is an expression a friend and mentor of mine says and it has become a mantra for me.
Make the time to practice diligently whatever new habits you want to learn and embed. Take the time to practice the technique right and you are supporting your body in creating new, more empowering habits and letting out-dated habits go. This can be applied to physical activities such as running faster or further or mountain climbing, learning a skill like playing the piano or listening more deeply and embedding new mind-sets, for example, around money, work processes or health.
Intention
What are your desired outcomes? There is a pain you want to address- what are you willing to do to achieve that? There is a problem you want to solve- what changes do you want to see? What practical steps are you going to take to get there?
You start from the inside out. With emotion. What is driving you? A lack of confidence? Financial freedom? Better relationships with your partner, children, friends, colleagues? Clarity on life purpose? More fulfilling work? These are all emotive topics- particularly if you experience pain around them.
And these emotions drive your intention. They act like a magnet that aligns you physically, mentally and emotionally. From this place, you are more likely to take action. But it has to be the right kind of action or you will not achieve your goal.
“What” do you practice?
So, practice with intention. Be specific and focus on your goals and desired outcomes. Be intentional. Whether it is a practical skill like martial arts or driving a car you wish to perfect or developing your leadership style or your competency as a solopreneur, intention and practice will be central to your success.
Learn from others what is required. Have a mentor, teacher or guide. Hone your skill. Become an expert. Practice whatever you require to excel.
The Challenge
You will meet challenges. Your body resists change. All biological systems strive for balance. Growth and changing behaviour throw the system that is you out of balance. So, the system fights back to maintain the status quo. If you come at this from a perspective of patience and compassion, you will give yourself the time and opportunity to practice. In time the new way of doing things will become the status quo. And while it serves you, there is no reason to change it. Once it stops serving you, change and growth are required to move things forward and take the next step.
Are you practising to be technically better? There is benefit in honing your practical skills so that you can perform well in any activity. Martial Arts is full of technical considerations. Life coaching requires a particular skill set that can be improved. Any activity requires practice of skills. Learn impeccable technical knowledge and practice endlessly those basic skills that are the foundation of all the advanced techniques. Writing with a pen, driving a car, golf swings, listening skills, dance steps- all have technical skills to practice. This is the “what” of your practice.
“How” do you practice?
“How” you practice is just as important as “what” you practice
It is not all about “what” you do. There is also the “how” of your practice. By which I mean, what qualities are you using and cultivating when you are doing your practice? Are you developing cold and clinical execution or passion-filled expression driven by the emotion of the moment? Do you drive yourself to complete a certain number of repetitions or achieve something in a specific window of time? Or are you freer in your practice and go by what feels right?
In an earlier blog, I explained the 4 elements. This is a convenient way to describe qualities you might cultivate in your practice. Earth is more technical and precision based. Water more flowing and relational. Fire focuses on directness and driving through. While Air is lighter, creative and spontaneous.
How does the “how” you do something serve you? You may want to be really efficient at updating your book-keeping but this approach may not work when building a vision for your business or dreaming up a family holiday. Taking time to build rapport may be incredibly important in building relationships but serve you less when trying to meet a deadline or getting the kids to school. Embodying the 4 elements can be a way of exploring the “how” of your practice so that you make the most of your time and get the most from each moment.
Perfect practice makes perfect
Only you can decide what is perfect for you. There is no absolute right way or wrong way. It is all about getting the results you want. If life does not feel amazing, then there is room for improvement. How can you tap into your own potential to create more of the life you want for yourself? Are you earning the money you want? Do you feel fulfilled in your work as you would like to? Are your relationships with family and friends as you would wish? Are your health, fitness and well-being at the level you want? Does life feel balanced? Or are you out of whack?
Over to you
So, look at the areas of your life that work and celebrate. No, really. Congratulate yourself on a job well done. Savour the success- be it being able to pick up the kids from school and having quality play time with them during the week or feeling that your work contributes to society in a meaningful way to you. You made that happen. Celebrate that.
And those areas that need work, find out what will work better and practice. Work out what you need to do and how you do it for greater success, well-being and happiness. I’d love to hear what you’ve got planned. And if you would like some support to work out what you want to be different and how to achieve that, please reach out.
Pass it on
If you found this blog useful, please pass it on to anyone you know who might find it interesting as well. Thank you.