The Art of Practice

I just finished practicing my piano and it felt good.

I am seeing that practice is really important for getting better at something, whether it’s playing the piano, writing, running, biking, loving. No matter what is the endeavor – practice needs to be an integral aspect of it – IF you want to ENJOY it! Of course to get better at it – but why would you want to get better at something?

Come to think of it – it is to ENJOY it – to feel the pleasure of what this thing is about.

For example – me practicing the piano. I see now how everyday that I can practice – the scales, the Hannon, and then a song, I am getting better. And as I get better, I get to ENJOY the piece that I am playing that I am now getting better at. When I don’t practice and I just play something – because I’m not that good at it, I am making mistakes and I am not playing the piece the way it is supposed to be – so I don’t get to enjoy it. I am in fact feeling the pain of struggle – so I stop and then get lazy and stop practicing or don’t practice at all. Then I sit on the piano and want to play something and I don’t play it well – so I stop and it’s a vicious cycle. 

So I am learning that the more I practice, the better I get to playing, the better I get to playing, the more I enjoy the piece and enjoy playing the piano. I see – the genius of practice.

Practice – not the favorite of people, certainly was not mine and still is not. HOWEVER, I do see the value, the need, and the outcome of it. Much like anything in life – you have to go through the path, like crossing a river, before you get to the other side. AND if you are willing to do whatever it takes, because the other side is what you want – because the other side is your dream – then practice is what will get you there. Practice – exercise – writing – doing something over and over, but each time, paying more attention and learning from it.

So at this moment, I FEEL the value and importance and even JOY of practice. The output or the outcome of consistent practice and getting better at practice is getting better at the craft – and getting the true joy out of the endeavor. Without practice – there is no joy. It is simple like that. So I am now committed to practicing – This is why some spiritual teachers call it – your PRACTICE.

I remember when I first started my PHD, I rode with some students going to the Orientation meeting. The moment we hopped on the bus, and got seated and people started getting to know each other. I will never forget this one person turned to me and asked me – quite sincerely and curiously – “What’s your Practice?” I was somewhat taken aback.

Practice?

What did she mean?

Then sensing my lack of understanding of her question, she tried to explain and clarify – “I mean, do you do yoga?”

For a moment, I felt this gleam of enlightenment – Oh I see what she means.

Then she asked again –“I mean, what do you do everyday – or do you do something everyday to help yourself?”

“Oh I see, I said to myself.”

I forgot my response to her. I may have said something like yoga, just to be in the know, just to not look like I am not cool – after all, this was a group going for their PHD’s. I don’t have a practice? Oh my!

Practice – today – this is my awakening – the importance of practice and the importance of having a PRACTICE – one is a verb, the other is a noun. I practice my piano everyday. My practice is mind-body-energy bowing; my daily practice is meditation; my daily practice is writing affirmations, my daily practice is smiling, praying, my daily practice is connecting to the divine inside me.

What is your daily practice?