Routine/Ritual: Practice, Practice, Practice

Musing…
”Ten thousand hours of practice is required to achieve the level of mastery associated with being a world-class expert-in anything. In study after study, of composers, basketball players, fiction writers, ice skaters, concert pianists, chess players, master criminals, and what have you, this number comes up again and again. Ten thousand hours is equivalent to roughly three hours a day, or twenty hours a week, of practice over ten years. Of course, this doesn't address why some people don't seem to get anywhere when they practice, and why some people get more out of their practice sessions than others. But no one has yet found a case in which true world-class expertise was accomplished in less time. It seems that it takes the brain this long to assimilate all that it needs to know to achieve true mastery.”
      -- from the book This Is Your Brain On Music, The Science of a Human Obsession by Daniel J. Levitin

Kate’s Turn:

I LOVE this fact!  It promises me results if I show up with perseverance. Of course, one needs to choose the areas you want proficiency in to invest those hours of practice. I have experience of this in many areas of my life: cooking, learning Spanish, sailing and other sports, my professional work, etc.  And most recently, learning watercolor painting. And currently, tap dancing!!! Even in the 2^nd lesson, I improved to my great delight. 

There is another practice that could be implied here: doing something daily to support your creative energies. During my morning walk, I ground myself, and remind myself of my expansive and creative nature. This daily reminder creates myself anew.  It is a time to reflect on how I create my life each moment, in my thoughts and in my actions. Am I practicing for the results I wish to achieve?

Get Fired Up:

Review all the things you’ve become accomplished at, simply through practice. 

Reflect on this question:  What am I creating for my life?

Have you heard about the guy who asked the taxi driver “How do you get to Carnegie Hall?”  The taxi driver replied, “PRACTICE!”